Tennis: Murray on song in strong clay start

MONTE CARLO, Monaco: Andy Murray sprang to life on Tuesday as the Scot began his clay-court season with a 6-0, 6-3 hammering of Serb Viktor Troicki to reach the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

He was joined by 13th seed Fernando Verdasco as the Spaniard beat Ivan Dodig of Croatia 3-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Under the watchful eye of coach Ivan Lendl, third seed Murray was ruthless in his demolition of Troicki, who gave him a brief fright on clay at last year's French Open.

Defeat put Troicki deeper into a hole against elite opponents -- he has now lost his last 24 matches against top 10 players.

Murray dominated from the start, breaking in the opening game and allowing the 30th-ranked Troicki just three points in the first four games of the rout. At one point, the Scot won 14 consecutive points.

Murray polished off the opening set in less than half an hour and got off a flyer with an early break in the second set.

He boasts a perfect record in five career meetings with Troicki and now moves into a third round match against either Frenchman Julien Benneteau or Austrian 15th seed Jurgen Melzer.

Murray, who reached the semi-finals a year ago before losing to Rafael Nadal, improved to 18-4 for the season as he began the run to Roland Garros.

In first-round action, Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan upset German 14th seed Florian Mayer 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 while Fabio Fognini, one of six Italians on court on the day, knocked out Michael Llodra of France 7-5, 6-3.

Italy's Filippo Volandri dispatched inexperienced compatriot Alessandro Giannessi 7-5, 6-3 and was joined by countrymen Andreas Seppi and Potito Starace.

Portugal's Frederic Gil beat Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-1, 6-3 while Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci put out South African Kevin Anderson 6-4, 6-4. (AFP)