Defending champion Andy Murray eased into the fourth round of the Sony Open in Miami with a straight-sets win over Spain's Feliciano López on Sunday.
Murray extended his perfect record against López to 9-0 with a 6-4 6-1 victory in 73 minutes to set up a clash with France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who recovered from 5-1 down in a second set tie-break to beat Marcos Baghdatis in three sets.
World number six Murray made the ideal start with a break of serve to love in the opening game of the match, but there was a moment of concern in the next game when he grabbed his lower back in pain after dumping a forehand into the net.
Murray has responded well to his split with Lendl
The Scot went on to lose that game after saving two break points, but did not appear to be physically hampered afterwards and he soon broke López again for a 3-2 lead.
Murray lost just one point in each of his next three service games to serve out the set and again broke López at the start of the second set.
Murray beats López
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(01 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain waves to the crowd after his straight sets victory against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(02 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain waves to the crowd after his straight sets victory against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(03 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand volley against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(04 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand volley against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(05 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand volley against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(06 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain in action against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(07 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain stretches to play a forehand against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(08 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(09 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain in action against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(10 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(11 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(12 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during the Sony Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(13 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during the Sony Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(14 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand volley against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(15 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand volley against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(16 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during the Sony Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(17 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during the Sony Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(18 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during the Sony Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(19 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during the Sony Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(20 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(21 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain returns a shot to Feliciano Lopez of Spain during the Sony Open at the Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(22 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain in action against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(23 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(24 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand volley against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(25 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Ivan Lendl (Andy Murrays ex coach) watches from the players box as Andy Murray of Great Britain plays against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(26 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Sony Ericsson Open - Day 7(27 of27)
KEY BISCAYNE, FL - MARCH 23: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during their third round match during day 7 at the Sony Open at Crandon Park Tennis Center on March 23, 2014 in Key Biscayne, Florida. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
López looked to be suffering from back problems of his own and never threatened to get back into the contest, losing his serve twice more as Murray sealed victory with a casual backhand return winner down the line.