Andy Murray said his return to tennis is going "in the right direction" after the former number one claimed his biggest scalp Tuesday since career-saving hip surgery.
The Briton defeated US Open semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (9/7) in just over two hours at the China Open in smoggy Beijing.
Murray meets compatriot Cameron Norrie in the last 16 after a gutsy victory over the 13th-ranked Italian.
Murray, 32, a three-time Grand Slam winner, said he had made big strides since the first singles match of his return, a defeat at the Cincinnati Masters in mid-August.
Last week in Zhuhai he won his first ATP singles match since January's major operation.
"I didn't really feel like I was playing at a great level," he said of his match against Richard Gasquet in Cincinnati "Whereas even last week (in Zhuhai), although I lost in the second round, I felt like I was playing tour-level tennis."
"So the more I can get through these sort of matches like I did today, I'll get there a little bit quicker."
- Trio into last 16 -
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"I think it was about going back out there and knowing we've done everything we could, trusting it."
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