Andy Murray progresses in Madrid

Number one seed Andy Murray moved into the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament on Tuesday following comfortable straight sets 6-4, 6-3 win over Rumanian wildcard Marius Copil.

Murray was the biggest name in action on a blustery Tuesday in Madrid, but needed just over one hour and 20 minutes to claim his win to move into the last 16, Xinhua news agency reported.

Some of Tuesday's matches were for a place in the second round with Spain's Nicolas Almagro booking a tie against Novak Djokovic after defeating fellow countryman Tommy Robredo 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

Meanwhile, Ryan Harrison defeated Bernard Tomic 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, while number 9 seed David Goffin had to work hard to take his first set 7-6 (7) against Florian Meyer, before running away with the second 6-0. Number 8 seed Dominic Thiem joins Murray in the third round after beating Jared Donaldson 6-3, 6-4.

"When I started to control the points more towards the end of the first set and second set, I was hitting the ball pretty clean, creating a few chances," Murray said. "I didn't give him any opportunities. It was good for the first match."

"I still think there's a ways to go," Murray said. "I don't think I'm playing perfectly just now. I think there's just things I can definitely do better." Murray is looking to kick-start his 2017 campaign in Madrid, as he did a year ago. Last year, he arrived in the Spanish metropolis with a 13-4 record and no titles. But Murray went on to reach the Madrid final (l. to Djojkovic) and finish the season on a 65-5 run and with an ATP World Tour-best nine titles.

This season, Murray is now 16-5 and has one title to his name, his 45th tour-level crown at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in February. But the World No. 1 hasn't reached another final since his Dubai triumph (d. Verdasco).

Against Copil, Murray was as solid as ever. He broke in the 10th game to take the opening set when Copil netted a backhand slice. Murray earned his second break to lead 4-2 in the second set and served out the match to advance in 84 minutes. Murray also congratulated Copil, who, despite the loss, will celebrate a career milestone next week. The 26-year-old Tecnifibre player, currently No. 104 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, is expected to debut in the Top 100 on Monday when the new rankings are released.