Jeremy Chardy no match for Andy Murray in France

The 24-year-old Scot’s impressive winning streak – which takes in titles in Bangkok, Tokyo and Shanghai – was never in doubt at the Palais Omnisports.

He broke Chardy’s serve in the first game of the match and little resistance was offered throughout the first set, which Murray took 6-2 in just 35 minutes.

Chardy, who began the year in the world’s top 50 but has since slipped to 110th in the world, was struggling to find either the consistency or accuracy to match the power of his forehand.

Murray had won all three previous encounters between the players but the Frenchman started the second set in much more aggressive fashion and finally settled into a rhythm on the arena’s slow surface.

The home crowd were suddenly given more to cheer as Chardy held his first two service games of the set, but he surrendered his third after Murray had stolen into a 0-30 lead to crank up the pressure.

Chardy’s best chance to recover the break came in the eighth. Trailing 4-3, the 24-year-old forced his way to deuce for the first time on Murray’s serve but fluffed a chance to earn break point, finding the net after chasing down a Murray drop-shot.

Murray, who was rarely required to venture onto the offensive during the match, closed out the contest in 79 minutes.

Having been forced to pull out of last week’s Basel tournament with a minor gluteal strain, Murray returned to action on Monday evening in the doubles, and reported a clean bill of health after yesterday’s victory. “I felt OK, I felt maybe my legs were not as strong and I did not move as well as I can do,” he said.

“But I played pretty well for the most part. I played a relatively solid match and you need to do that against him. I’m glad to get through and hope to play better in the next round.”

Chardy conceded he had been outclassed by his in-form opponent. “He is playing at a higher level,” he said. “He’s playing the right shots. He’s everywhere.”

Murray last lost to Rafael Nadal in the US Open semi-finals and has now won 26 of 27 matches since mid-August. He will be looking to make that 27 from 28 today when he takes on Andy Roddick in the third round.

Roddick had progressed on Tuesday afternoon, beating another Frenchamn, Julien Benneteau, 6-4, 6-4. But the American had raised slight concerns over the Paris Masters surface.

“It’s a lot slower than last year,” said 13th-seeded Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion. “I don’t know if they enjoy keeping us guessing, because you never know what you’re going to get when you come to this tournament as far as what the court is going to be.

“Certainly makes for an entertaining first five minutes when you hit every year, though.”

Roddick can no longer qualify for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals but the world No 15 can still end the year in the top ten. The last time Roddick failed to finish a season in the top ten was 2001. “I’m looking forward to this offseason and getting an extended period to train, come back, and feel like I’m actually ready,” he said.