Murray has enjoyed his best clay-court season this year
Andy Murray reached the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open with a 7-5 6-1 victory over Spain's Tommy Robredo.
Murray twice failed to convert break-point chances in the first set, but seized his opportunity in the 11th game to take a 7-5 lead.
The Scot made light work of the second set, breaking Robredo in the third, fifth and seventh games.
Top three seeds Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic also made it through to the quarter-finals.
Murray, who turns 22 on Friday, produced one of his most accomplished performances on clay against Robredo, a three-time French Open quarter-finalist.
Robredo had the edge on Murray from their previous three encounters, having won two, although Murray came out on top in the last match in Indian Wells earlier this year.
The first set was a tight affair, going with serve as both players displayed impressive defensive resolve at the new Caja Magica venue at altitude in Madrid.
Murray savours 'big win'
Murray had spurned seven break points before the match-turning 11th game, converting his advantage when a Robredo forehand sailed wide of the tramlines.
And the world number three wrapped up the second set in just 33 minutes, varying his play as Robredo's defensive game unravelled in front of his home crowd.
Murray will now play fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro, who beat Stanislas Wawrinka 4-6 6-4 6-4, in the last eight.
The Briton admitted that the court and weather conditions had hampered his progress in the first set.
"I was a little tense when I had my chances and didn't take them," he said.
"I noticed that at this altitude the ball tends to fly faster, and because the court is sprayed with water regularly the balls also tend to pick up weight.
"I strung my racquets more tightly to compensate and was happy to be able to control the ball in the wind here."
Robredo was left to lament an early break in the second set.
"If you don't take your chances when you've got them, then he's going to kill you," said Robredo.
"When you attack him he defends well, and if you let him attack he really does it."
Top seed Nadal, who is chasing a sixth title of the season and a fourth on clay, had been due to play the unseeded Phillip Kohlschreiber later on Thursday.
However, an injury to the German's left leg curtailed his involvement in the tournament, leaving Nadal to face seventh seed Fernando Verdasco, who beat Juan Monaco 7-5 6-2.
Federer, who has yet to win a title this year, made light work of 14th seed James Blake, beating him 6-2 6-4.
The 27-year-old dominated his American opponent from the off, breaking in the opening game of the match.
Federer wrapped up the victory courtesy of his fifth ace of the encounter on his first match point.
He will play sixth seed Andy Roddick in the quarter-final after the American's scheduled third-round opponent, Russian Nikolay Davydenko, pulled out because of a problem with his left leg.
"We haven't played since the Olympics and I was pleased with the way it went today, especially with him (Blake) playing so well recently," said Federer.
Third seed Djokovic, eyeing a fifth straight final appearance, beat Italian Andreas Seppi 6-4 6-4 to set up a quarter-final clash with Croat Ivan Ljubicic, who beat Gilles Simon of France 3-6 6-4 6-3.
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
Bookmark with:
What are these?