<p>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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Soderling, who will face Ferrer next, will have to improve dramatically if he is to match his run to the semifinals here last year. <br /><br />Bhupathi-Mirnyi advance<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Bhupathi and Mirnyi won 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 over the pair of Poland’s Kubot and Australia’s Marach.</p>
<p>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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />Soderling, who will face Ferrer next, will have to improve dramatically if he is to match his run to the semifinals here last year. <br /><br />Bhupathi-Mirnyi advance<br /><br />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.<br /><br />Bhupathi and Mirnyi won 7-6 (7-2), 6-4 over the pair of Poland’s Kubot and Australia’s Marach.</p>
