Cincinnati Masters 2014: Andy Murray pleased with win over Joao Sousa

Andy Murray was pleased to get through to the last 16 of the Western & Southern Open after a straight sets win against Joao Sousa in difficult conditions.

The 2012 US Open champion took an hour and 11 minutes to seal a 6-3, 6-3 win against his 25-year-old Portuguese opponent in Cincinnati on Wednesday.

Murray, who lost to eventual winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals of the Rogers Cup last week, is set to face big-serving American John Isner for a place in the last eight.

And the eighth seed was pleased to get through a potentially trick match as the Scot bids to win his third Cincinnati Masters title.

“I got the win and that’s the most important thing,” Murray is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

“It’s very different conditions here this week and a lot of the guys are struggling to control the ball, so I was happy to come through. It’s a good start.”

Meanwhile, Murray’s fellow Brit James Ward saw his run come to an end after the 27-year-old was soundly beaten 6-2, 6-2 by France’s Julien Benneteau.