Australian Open

Andy Murray eases past Joao Sousa in Australian Open

By Charlie Bennett, Reporter | 23 January 2015

Andy Murray eases past Joao Sousa to make it into the Australian Open fourth round.

Andy Murray made light work of Joao Sousa to make it through to the Australian Open fourth round, as he won in straight sets 6-1 6-1 7-5 today.

Murray looked in imperious form from the start as he broke Sousa in just the fourth game of the match with a backhand winner, and he rushed through the opening set in under half an hour.

Britain's Andy Murray celebrates after beating Joao Sousa of Portugal in their men's singles match on day five of the 2015 Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 23, 2015 © Getty Images

A marathon game at the beginning of the second set saw Murray eventually break the Portuguese player, before Sousa took an injury time-out with an knee problem.

He returned, but he couldn't stop Murray breaking him twice more and taking a two-set lead.

The former finalist kept his momentum going with another early break in the third set, but Sousa hit back and he increased in confidence as the set progressed.

Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand in his third round match against Joao Sousa of Portugal during day five of the 2015 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2015 © Getty Images

However, Murray increased the pressure on Sousa and it eventually worked in the 12th game, when he broke his serve to confirm his safe passage to the next round.

Murray will next face Grigor Dimitrov, who beat him at Wimbledon last year.