Andy Murray dispatches Alexander Dolgopolov in Shanghai Masters

Shanghai: Britain's Andy Murray ousted Ukraine's Alexander Dolgopolov in their third-round match at the Shanghai Masters on Thursday. It was the first game of the tournament for the defending champion and third seed who got a bye in the first round and saw second-round opponent Florian Mayer pull out through injury.

Dolgopolov, likely top seed for next week's Kremlin Cup in Moscow, made 34 unforced errors to help the US Open champion to a 6-2, 6-2 triumph. In the quarterfinals, Murray will face Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic. Stepanek, ranked 41 in the world, defeated eighth seed John Isner of the United States in a three-set battle.

Despite Isner's 17 aces and 41 winners, Stepanek managed to complete a 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3 win by limiting his unforced errors.

The reigning US Open champion won 6-2, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals.

The tournament is the penultimate in the series of nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events.

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