Federer, Murray win

World number two Federer never requires gimmicks to leave his audience spellbound and that proved the case again as he began his bid for a record-equalling fifth title at the season-ender with a 6-1, 6-4 defeat of Spaniard David Ferrer.

Earlier in front of a 17,500-capacity crowd, Murray dropped only one more game, crushing Sweden's world number four Robin Soderling 6-2, 6-4 with a virtuoso display that augurs well for the home favourite as he aims to end a mixed year on a high.

Murray entered the cavernous arena to strobe lighting and The Clash classic "London Calling" bellowing out from the sound system and he clearly enjoyed an atmosphere far-removed from the brooding hush of Wimbledon's Centre Court.

Soderling, who will face Ferrer next, will have to improve dramatically if he is to match his run to the semifinals here last year.

Bhupathi-Mirnyi advance

India tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi today advanced to the second round after he and his partner Max Mirnyi defeated Lukasz Kubot and Oliver Marach in straight sets.

Bhupathi and Mirnyi won 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 over the pair of Poland’s Kubot and Australia’s Marach.