Sweet spot: Andy Murray sends down a huge backhandAndy Murray 's season looks like it is emerging into the daylight after going into hibernation after he reached the Australian Open final more than three months ago.
He can provide definitive proof that his post- Melbourne malaise is behind him tonight when he tackles David Ferrer, one of the circuit's most in-form clay court players, in the quarterfinals of the £5.5million Madrid Open.
The British No 1 earned that meeting last night when he brushed aside the 6ft 6in Romanian Victor Hanescu with sublime ease, flooring him 6-2, 6-1 in just 69 minutes.
It was his best display since January, but he must show further improvement against a home player at the Caja Magica tonight if he is to avenge his recent defeat at the Italian Open by Ferrer, who went on to reach the final.
Big win: Andy Murray celebrates victory over Victor Hanescu'I'm definitely in a better position than when I played him two weeks ago,' he said. 'The scoreline then (6-3, 6-4) sounded comfortable but I actually had quite a few chances.
'It's going to be a big step up but I've had a couple more matches since then and I'm hitting the ball better.'
Under a closed roof due to the grim weather last night, Murray's serve was much improved and his timing was sweet. It helped him calm an early assault from an opponent who has clocked some useful results on clay this season.
After saving two break points in the third game, the 22-year-old Scot was to go on a run that saw him win 10 of the last 11 games, encouragingly putting some real beef into his forehand.
This victory in a tournament where Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have also made the last eight gave him his first consecutive wins since mid-March.
source :dailymail
