0851: Thank you very much for your company this morning. I give you permission to return to bed. Unless you're working of course. That wouldn't be good. Keep across the BBC Tennis website for the latest news from today's action in Shanghai, and I'll see you soon. Take care.

0845: A good display there from Murray while Chardy made too many mistakes for him to really challenge. Murray now marches on to the quarter-finals and that is actually enough for him to make the World Tour Finals. "I thought [my performance] was very good," says Murray. "I hit the ball very cleanly from the back and I was not miss-hitting many balls."

Murray 6-3 6-4 Chardy
Well that just faded out really. Murray sets up three match points with an ace and then completes victory when Chardy fires a return into the sky. Job done.
* denotes next to serve

* Murray 6-3 5-4 Chardy
Solid service game from Chardy as he holds to love. Fair play to him. Murray biding his time and he will now serve for the match.
* denotes next to serve

Murray 6-3 5-3 Chardy *
Chardy looks a beaten man. Murray really has very little trouble in holding. The only slight interruption was a crosscourt forehand from Chardy that is called out by the line judge, the Frenchman challenges... but the call was right. Chardy will now serve to stay in the match.
* denotes next to serve

* Murray 6-3 4-3 Chardy
There's a good chance for Murray as he carves out a beak point. Chardy comes to the net, this time his volley connects and Murray can't get it back. Murray motions as if he is going to propel his racquet into the ground but thinks better of it. Murray then gets another break point but Chardy saves it with the help of a powerful backhand down the line which has the Scot scrambling. Murray harries Chardy on the next point to get his third break point of the game and this time he converts it thanks to a double fault from the Frenchman. That is not a good time to record a first double of the match. That's what Murray wanted. He's in charge now.
* denotes next to serve

Murray 6-3 3-3 Chardy *
Murray races into a 30-0 lead and then produces a superb drop shot from the back of the court that floats deliciously over the net. Class. Chardy, who defeated the wonderfully named Alexandr Dolgopolov in the last round, gets a point back but then has a misread of a shot to the back of the court and Murray holds.
* denotes next to serve

* Murray 6-3 2-3 Chardy
Chardy opens up with an ace early doors, it is challenged but the ball clips the line. It is then Chardy's turn to challenge when a volley at the net is called out... the line-judge gets it right. Chardy holds when Murray inexplicably puts a forehand into the net from close range.
* denotes next to serve

Murray 6-3 2-2 Chardy *
Another strong service game from Murray as he goes 40-0 up. Chardy has nothing to lose and he responds with a fine backhand winner down the line. Murray then goes long which raises the temperature a little but the Scot ends any doubt with an ace to hold.
* denotes next to serve

* Murray 6-3 1-2 Chardy
Chances. Chances. A poor volley from Chardy straight into the net makes the score 30-30 and another mistake gives Murray a break point. Chardy then unleashes a big serve which helps him save it, although he returns to his naughty ways on the next point when he makes a horlicks of another volley at the net. Murray can't convert it, much to his frustration, and Chardy eventually hangs on.
* denotes next to serve

Murray 6-3 1-1 Chardy *
Murray is totally on top of this game from the very first point which is another ace. Chardy is struggling to cope when Murray's first serve drops in and he hardly threatens. Comfortable.
* denotes next to serve

* Murray 6-3 0-1 Chardy
From the Frenchman's point of view, that was the perfect way to respond as he holds to 15.
* denotes next to serve

Murray 6-3 Chardy *
And that's the first set. The key rally sees Murray dig himself out of a hole with a lob from the baseline that forces Chardy to retreat to the back of the court. Chardy then challenges an ace but again, the ball just brushes the line. Can you see anything but a Murray win now, or will Chardy hit back like he did against Murray in Cincinnati last year?
* denotes next to serve

* Murray 5-3 Chardy
That was a mixed bag from Chardy. He puts an absolute dolly of a volley, I'm a poet don't you know, into the net from close range while he wins the game with another well-placed ace. The highlight for Murray is a superb backhand return winner down the line. He hardly moved his racquet - just shows you what timing does.
* denotes next to serve

Murray 5-2 Chardy *
Chardy tucks away a tidy volley at the net to get a sniff at 30-15 up but in the next rally he places an ambitious forehand into the net. Murray recovers to 40-30 but Chardy wins a fine rally when his opponent fails to reach a drop volley. Murray points to his temple and mutters something, couldn't hear what he said unfortunately. Now it's a break point for Chardy... but a weak return gives Murray an easy opportunity to put a forehand winner away. The chance is gone and Murray wraps the game up when Chardy puts a return long. Chardy will now serve to stay in the set.
* denotes next to serve

* Murray 4-2 Chardy
Well that didn't take long. Some more big serving from Chardy puts him on the front foot. Murray challenges one such serve but the ball is shown to have just clipped the line. The Frenchman then batters a simple smash at the net to hold to love.
* denotes next to serve

Murray 4-1 Chardy *
Signs of frustration from Murray. He fires a shot into the net as Chardy goes 30-0 up and the Scot batters the bottom of his trainer with his racquet. Murray does get back to 30-30 but when a forehand flies out to give Chardy a break point, there's another anguished scream. Murray, though, produces a big serve to take it to deuce and a forehand error from Chardy gets Murray out of that spot of bother.
* denotes next to serve

* Murray 3-1 Chardy
Chardy is on the board. A Murray forehand is called out, giving Chardy the chance to win the game... and he does with an absolute rocket of an ace. I wonder how fast that was?
* denotes next to serve

Murray 3-0 Chardy *
Simple enough for Murray as Chardy struggles to find his range. The Frenchman does fire an accurate forehand return past Murray; the Scot challenges but the ball landed in... just. Apart from that though, Murray looks comfortable.
* denotes next to serve

* Murray 2-0 Chardy
Chardy seems to still be thinking about losing those three break points in the opening game as Murray breaks to love. The highlight is a wonderful backhand crosscourt winner from Murray which delights the (very sparse) crowd.
* denotes next to serve

Murray 1-0 Chardy *
Well that was a sticky start for Murray. Chardy comes out of the blocks fighting and finds himself 40-0 up with the help of two forehand winners. Murray hits back and a couple of Chardy gifts helps Murray fight back to deuce. The world number four eventually puts the game to bed with an ace. If this match carries on like this, we could be in for a cracker.
* denotes next to serve

0719: Not great news on the crowd front unfortunately. There's hardly anyone there. Right then, we are about to start... Murray to serve first.

0715: These two have met twice before by the way. They played at the Cincinnati Masters in August 2009, Murray overcoming a second-set wobble to win 6-3 6-7 6-2 while they also met at the Montreal Masters in August this year, the Scot coming through 6-4 6-2.

0712: Apparently a 'technical issue' has delayed proceedings a little and while we were waiting we were treated to telly pictures of Murray warming up with a coach behind him bouncing a tennis ball through his legs and off a wall. Anyway, the players are now out warming up on the court after a very upbeat introduction from the PA announcer. I think he has a future in boxing.

0710: Now this text commentary will be nothing without you so I need you to get involved. You can use Twitter or text via 81111 (UK) or 44 7786200666 (worldwide) with TENNIS before your message. You can tell me your predictions for today and the rest of the week, maybe what you are eating for breakfast. I'm feeling hungry see.

0708: Next up for Murray is French qualifier Jeremy Chardy in today's third round encounter. After a quick read of his profile this morning, I regard myself as a bit of an expert of all things Chardy. Well, I say expert... He's the current world number 59 and apparently regards his serve as his strongest shot. His idol is Pete Sampras and after his tennis career finishes, he would like to become an actor. Don't we all dear.

0705: A very warm welcome to you. So part one of Murray's World Tour Finals mission was completed yesterday as he comfortably defeated wildcard Bai Yan 6-2 6-2 in the second round at the Shanghai Qi Zhong Tennis Centre. Remember that if Murray reaches the quarter-finals with victory here, he will join Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer in the season-ending World Tour Finals in November.

0700: Morning all. I know it's dark and cold outside on this autumnal UK morning, but what better way is there to get yourself warmed up than with a bit of Andy Murray action at the Shanghai Masters. Join me.