Andy Murray surged into the Paris Masters quarter-finals with a 6-1 6-0 thumping of Belgian David Goffin in what was a dress rehearsal for their expected meeting in the Davis Cup final.
Although the showpiece team event between Great Britain and Belgium will be contested on indoor clay in Ghent, the Scot’s hard-court display in the French capital was an ominous indication of his form heading into the November 27-29 encounter.
The story of the match was told by the 22 unforced errors by Goffin to Murray’s eight, with the Belgian failing to take his single break point while the Briton took five in a clash which was over in under an hour.
The number two seed broke serve twice in the opening set to close it out in 25 minutes against an opponent who gifted him easy points through unforced errors.
Goffin’s only break point came as Murray served to take the set, but he was unable to capitalise.
Murray broke again in the first game of the second set to stamp home his authority. He double-faulted to go 0-30 down in his next service game before fighting back to win the next four points and take a 2-0 lead.
Some fine returning by Murray, from both sides of the court, set up another break chance and a netted backhand by Goffin gifted the two-time major winner a 3-0 lead.
Murray’s second double fault gave Goffin a way back into the next game but a netted backhand return by the 24-year-old on a Murray second serve and then an ace put the Scot on the verge of a 4-0 lead. But when Murray netted a backhand of his own he needed another ace, down the centre line, to make it a fourth straight game in the set.
Goffin battled hard to make it back to 40-40 in the fifth game before a third double fault by the Belgian gifted his opponent another break chance.
A second-serve review by Goffin brought the Belgian back level at deuce but Murray’s backhand pass down the line set up another break point.
Goffin saved that one before gifting Murray his fifth break as an over-hit backhand by the Belgian put the 28-year-old 5-0 ahead and on the verge of a straightforward victory.
A comfortable hold to love by Murray saw him take the second set and see out the match in just 53 minutes.