Murray happy with progress

Andy Murray believes he has reached new heights since Wimbledon as his fine start the American hardcourt season continues.

Following last week's run to the semi-finals of the Toronto Masters - where he was narrowly edged out by his SW19 nemesis and world number one elect Rafael Nadal - the Scot powered into the quarters in Cincinnati on Thursday night with a brilliant 6-3 6-3 demolition of big-hitting Dmitry Tursunov.

Aside from one concession of serve in the first set, the 21-year-old was in majestic form as he displayed a full array of blistering shots in humid conditions to set up a last-eight clash with Carlos Moya.

Murray's performances since his humbling by Nadal in the All-England quarter-finals have suggested that his stay in the world's top 10, where he is currently ninth, will be a lengthy one.

And the Briton believes he is playing the best tennis of his young career, outstripping the form he showed before a wrist injury robbed him of much of the 2007 season.

"It's definitely better - I feel much more comfortable up at the net, I'm being a bit more aggressive on the second-serve return than I was before and I'm definitely physically stronger as well," he told Sky Sports.

"So I feel more comfortable and feel that I can definitely compete at this level for five or six matches, rather than two or three like I was able to do last year.

"It's shown in my ranking and results."

Murray, who showed no signs of the niggling knee injury that has hampered him of late, came from 30-0 down to break Tursunov in the opening game before firing an ace with his first serve of the match to make an ominous statement of intent.

Murray briefly took his foot off the accelerator to allow his opponent a foothold into the match with a break back in the sixth game.

But in a see-saw first set, the world number 34 then sent down two double faults in the seventh to hand Murray a second break - which he consolidated for 5-3.

An outrageous, spinning backhand drop shot handed the Briton a first set point on Tursunov's serve, and a booming forehand winner sealed it 6-3.

Murray claimed three break points in the second game of the second set and needed all of them before clinching his 25-year-old opponent's service game in style.

A beautifully-constructed and lengthy rally ended with a stunning crosscourt backhand winner which appeared to be the last straw for the Russian's hopes.

Murray, playing a series of delightful shots, then held to love to move 3-0 ahead and victory soon followed.