Andy Murray has swept aside Nicolas Mahut in straight sets to progress to the last 16 of the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

The world number four, who was competing for the first time since reaching the Australian Open final, dropped just five games as he ran out a convincing 6-3 6-2 winner.

After the opening five games of the match went with serve, Murray struck in the sixth to gain the early advantage over the Frenchman before confidently serving out for a one-set lead.

Murray broke through at the start of the second before immediately having to save two break points of his own as Mahut showed little sign of wilting after coming through the qualifying rounds to make the main draw.

However, after Murray fended off the 33-year-old's onslaught, he struck again on Mahut's serve before having to save a third break point of the set to open up a 4-0 margin.

Mahut managed to save a second-set bagel, but he couldn't prevent Murray from advancing through to the next round where he will play Vasek Pospisil.