Andy Murray brushes aside Steve Johnson in Shanghai Masters

Murray, another two-time victor at Shanghai’s Qi Zhong Stadium, also zipped past Steve Johnson 6-2, 6-4 and French Open champion Wawrinka beat Viktor Troicki 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

He beat the American 6-2 6-4 in his first outing since inspiring Great Britain’s Davis Cup semi-final victory over Australia on 20 September.

The match began in a somewhat uncomfortable manner with the world number two dropping his opening service game, but he recovered immediately to break back and wrapped up the set in just 34 minutes. “I struck the ball very clean off both sides, returned well and the serve was good”, the Scot told Sky Sports.

“I think Nick has to learn from these kind of matches, listen to the advices of the more experienced people, especially from his country, Pat Rafter, Rod Laver, all the greats that have made the history of this sport”.

Murray will face another American in the third round in the shape of the big-serving John Isner. It looked as though Johnson, fresh from a good three-set win over Andreas Seppi, was up for the battle, and he broke Murray in the first game.

“I’m aware of the mental edge that I might have over a certain amount of players, and I try to use that. As I said, many matches won on this court as well helps me to be more comfortable starting the match and playing in it, as well”. “It will be a tough match”.

“It was tough few months from after Wimbledon really, I played a lot of tennis there”.

Murray, though, is confident that his streamlined schedule since the US Open and on towards London and the Davis Cup final, is reaping rewards.

“I didn’t hit the ball in anger”. And after this event I’ve got another couple of weeks where I won’t be playing any matches, so I’ll be able to get some further rest there and get some training done, work on some things and again, and hopefully stay fresh for the end of the year. I took like five full days off when I did nothing. Today I felt a little bit lighter on my feet.”Jankovic, 30, has never played 21-year-old Gavrilova”.

The bad news for Anderson is that he has lost all three previous meetings to Nishikori – and that all three came on hard courts, two of them this season alone (in the Memphis final and semifinals of Acapulco). If it happens, it happens”, shrugged the world No.32, adding: “I probably shouldn’t have done it. But I didn’t think it was too bad.