US Open 2014: Andy Murray Eases Past Matthias Bachinger to Seal Place in Last 32

Andy Murray has sealed his place in the last-32 of the US Open after a straight sets victory over Matthias Bachinger.

The British number one struggled with cramp during his opening round victory over Robin Haase but showed no signs of trouble as he eased to a 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory during his evening session at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Murray will meet Andrey Kuznetsov in the third round after the Russian eliminated 31<sup>st seed Fernando Verdasco.

Bachinger, whose career high singles ranking was 85<sup>th three years ago, gifted eighth-seeded Murray an early break after two unforced errors. Murray followed up with another break early in the second set and proceeded to stretch his opponent with confident backhands, leaving the German gasping for breath as he closed the second set in just over an hour.

On a gusty evening in New York, Bachinger worked his first chance to haul himself back into the contest with his first break point of the evening early in the third set only to spurn his opportunity. Murray himself missed the opportunity to put daylight between himself and his opponent at 4-3 after another missed break, but soon broke Bachinger's resistance to secure victory.

After his win, Murray hoped the physical struggles that marred his win in the first round were now a thing of the past.

"In terms of hitting the ball, it was okay on Monday - I didn't feel like I was hitting the ball that badly at all," Murray said in a BBC Sport report.

"But when you can't move and your body's not functioning properly, it's difficult. Physically I thought I was fine tonight."

Elsewhere on day three at Flushing Meadows, top seed Novak Djokovic blitzed Frenchman Paul Henri-Mathieu 6-1 6-3 6-0 inside an hour-and-a-half to set up his third round clash with USA's Sam Querry.

Defending women's champion Serena Williams also booked her place in the last-32 in style, breezing past Vania King 6-1 6-0.