Paris Masters: Andy Murray thrashes Belgium number one David Goffin in Davis Cup prequel

Andy Murray laid down a marker ahead of the Davis Cup final by beating Belgium number one David Goffin for the loss of just one game to cruise into the quarter finals of the Paris Masters. Murray will likely face Goffin on clay in Ghent in one of four singles rubbers and produced a devastating display ahead of a potential duel with a 6-1 6-0 victory in 53 minutes in the French capital.

Great Britain face Belgium on 27-29 November looking to win their first Davis Cup title for 79 years, and Murray and Goffin will prove pivotal to both teams' attempts to claiming victory. Goffin, ranked 16<sup>th in the ATP standings, will have a home crowd on his side on Murray's least-favoured surface of clay, but nevertheless he failed to cope with the British number one during a one-sided encounter.

The result means Goffin heads into the tie without a career win over the two-time grand slam champion – his only success coming via a victory by walkover at the Rome Masters earlier this year – while his own preparation for the tie has been disrupted by a premature exit from the final Masters Series event of the year. Murray, who will build up for the tie by playing at the ATP World Tour Finals in London, faces either Kei Nishikori or home favourite Richard Gasquet for the place in the last four for the first time as he attempts to finish the year as the world number two.