SHANGHAI, Oct 13: Britain�s Andy Murray was in commanding form as he beat Lucas Pouille in straight sets to progress to the quarterfinals of the Shanghai Masters.
The world number two won 6-1, 6-3 in one hour 17 minutes to set up a last-eight tie with either Gael Monfils of France or Belgium�s David Goffin.
Murray played aggressively, though he will want to improve on a 46% first-serve percentage.
�I was able to dictate a lot of points. It was a good match,� said Murray.
The world number two began superbly, breaking his 22-year-old opponent in the second and fourth games, and concluded an impressive first set in 39 minutes with the Frenchman making 13 unforced errors. Thirteenth seed Pouille was broken immediately at the start of the second set and although he managed to hold his serve three times thereafter, he was unable to stop Murray from breaking again to seal victory.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic had little trouble against his Canadian opponent Vasek Pospisil, coming through 6-4, 6-4 in 79 minutes to seal a quarterfinal meeting with German qualifier Mischa Zverev.
Djokovic has struggled with motivation and injury problems in the second half of the season after claiming the Australian and French Open titles, but he remained on course to defend the title he won last year with another routine victory.
The top seed will next play Germany�s Mischa Zverev, who beat Spain�s Marcel Granollers 6-7 (4-7), 6-4, 6-1.
French ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga saw off Alexander Zverev of Germany 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 7-5 and will play Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in the last eight.
Fifth-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada crashed out of the third round going down to Jack Sock of the US.
Raonic, despite dominating at the start of the game, lost 6-0, 4-6, 6-7 (8-10) against Sock, who had lost in eight of the previous nine games between them, reports Efe. � Agencies