The world number two began the contest sluggishly against Paire, the Frenchman racing to the opening set 6-2 to close on claiming a major shock in the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event.

Murray looked likely to join Serbia’s Novak Djokovic as an early casualty after he went a double break down in the second.

The two-time Grand Slam champion clawed his way back into the match by recovering from 3-0 down to claim the set 7-5.

Paire broke his rival in the deciding set but proved unable to preserve his advantage as Murray hit back again to claim a hard fought 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 win.

“It was a big win is what it was,” said Murray.

“To win from 6-2, 3-0 down, two breaks, when you’re not playing particularly well, it’s a great effort.

“Those matches are important.

“It would have been easy to lose today and get down on myself, but I kept fighting right the way through to the end.”

Murray will now face Milos Raonic as he targets a third semi-final appearance following the Canadian player winning his third round tie 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 against Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Damir Dzumhur.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal, winner of this tournament for sixconsecutive years from 2005 to 2012, earned a 7-5, 6-3 win over Austria’s Dominic Thiem to keep his challenge on track on his favourite clay surface.

He will now take on Switzerland’s Stan Wawrinka, who defeated France’s Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2.

World number three Roger Federer of Switzerland cruised to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut to set up a clash with either France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Lucas Pouille.

France’s Gael Monfils overcome Djokovic’s conqueror Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic 6-1, 6-2, which saw him set up a clash against Spain’s Marcel Granollers, who defeated Belgium’s David Goffin 7-6, 6-4.