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Murray fights his way into last eight in China

Andy Murray got the job done in straight sets © Getty Images

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Andy Murray edged into the last eight of the China Open by fighting his way past Albert Montanes in two closely-contested sets.

The Scot found himself a break down in each frame, but both times he was able to claw back the deficit on his way to a 7-5 6-3 triumph in 96 minutes.

It was another useful step on the road to recovery for Murray, who is aiming to repair his bruised confidence by ending a difficult year - he has only won one title in 2010 - on a high.

Although he had never dropped a set to Montanes in each of their previous meetings, Murray came within a whisker of surrendering the opener in Beijing.

The Spaniard served for the set at 5-4, but he was unable to seize the opportunity, allowing Murray to restore parity and go on to claim the next two games - and the set.

The momentum was now firmly behind Murray but, as has been the case on so many occasions this year, he went to sleep at the start of the second stanza. Montanes claimed a 1-0 lead early in the piece before Murray again came storming back with two breaks that proved enough to take him over the finish line.

While Murray's resilience was impressive, his first-serve percentage remains a concern that will need addressing before he takes on the world's best in the season-closing events. He found the box with 43% of his opening deliveries, heaping a lot of pressure on a second serve that has never been the most formidable.

Murray remains on a course for a potential final with Novak Djokovic, but first he must overcome Ivan Ljubicic in the last eight.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.