Monte Carlo Masters: Murray overcomes Muller to reach pre-quarters

World number one Andy Murray produced a rich vein of form as he brushed aside Gilles Muller of Luxembourg to storm into the third round of the men's singles event at the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters here on Wednesday.

The British tennis maestro, a three-time semi-finalist at the tournament, posted a hard-fought 7-5, 7-5 win over his good friend Muller in an exhilarating second-round contest that lasted almost two hours.

With the win, Murray has now improved his FedEx ATP Head2Head series against Muller to 6-0.

The top-seeded had not played since March 12 due to a right elbow injury and is bidding to capture his 15th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title.

Murray will now lock horns with No. 15 Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who stormed into the pre-quarterfinals for the first time with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over qualifier Carlos Berlocq in a clash that lasted one hour and 20 minutes.

Elsewhere, defending champion and fourteen-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal struggled past Britain's Kyle Edmund 6-0, 5-7, 6-3 in their thrilling second round of the tournament.

Nadal, who won the tournament nine times, is looking for this first title of the year after losing in three finals - to longtime rival Roger Federer at the Australian Open and the Miami Open, and a surprise defeat to big-serving American Sam Querrey in Acapulco, Mexico.