Murray keeps cool to ease out Ferrero

(GETTY IMAGES)

Andy Murray's attempt to climb to second place in the world rankings continued apace yesterday with a comprehensive straight-sets win over Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero at the Montreal Masters.

The Scot rarely looked troubled in testing, hot conditions as he raced to a 6-1, 6-3 victory against the former world No 1 to reach the quarter-finals, where he will play either Fernando Gonzalez or Nikolai Davydenko.

Murray broke in the first Ferrero service game of the match and forced a second in the sixth before wrapping up the opening set with a thumping ace. Ferrero received more of the same punishment at the start of the second set, Murray converting his second break point chance before holding the rest of the way to take victory.

"I've had two good wins and I knew it would be tough but I played well," Murray said. "This is my best surface. I can swing more freely at the ball as it sits up at a nice height. I felt confident today. I'm hitting the ball really well from the back of the court."

Late on Wednesday night, Rafael Nadal's first singles match after a lengthy injury lay-off ended abruptly when the Spaniard's Davis Cup team-mate David Ferrer retired hurt during their second-round game.

With Nadal leading 4-3 in the opening set and having just broken his opponent for the second time, Ferrer walked over to the umpire and said he could not continue after aggravating a left knee injury. "I had problems with my knee, I cannot play," Ferrer said.