Andy Murray cruises to victory over Edouard Roger-Vasselin at the Monte Carlo Masters

World number two beats French opponent in straight sets

Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a backhand volley against Edouard Roger-Vasselin of France in their second round match during day four of the ATP Monte Carlo Masters (GETTY IMAGES)

Andy Murray started his clay court season with a routine victory over Edouard Roger-Vasselin at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Stepping out on the red surface for the first time in 2013, the Scot's first preparatory match ahead of the French Open lasted one hour 12 minutes, winning 6-1 6-4.

The US Open champion is seeded second in the principality - above Rafael Nadal who is seeking a ninth successive title at the event - and he started as if to show why as he broke twice for a 4-0 lead.

His French opponent managed to get a foothold in the game to break back to 4-1, but he was quickly put to bed in the first set with another loss of service.

The second set was harder going for Murray, despite an early break pushing him out in front. In the end, once Roger-Vasselin found his range, serve held through to the finish giving Murray a third-round meeting with Stanislas Wawrinka.

"I got to 4-0 early on which helped," Murray assessed on Sky Sports 1.

"I think he was a bit nervous, didn't move that well at the beginning and then he started to play better.

"He was getting a lot of balls back and I tried to attack as much as I could. It's a positive and good start."

The win certainly ticked a number of boxes for Murray, who became the world number two with victory in his last tournament in Miami,

He sent down eight aces and won 90 per cent of the points on his first serve, while converting four of six break points.

PA