Andy Murray progressed to the third round of the Paris Masters - and one step closer to securing a spot in the end-of-season Masters Cup in Shanghai - after beating Jarkko Nieminen in straight sets in France. The British No 1 struggled for his best form throughout the game despite the 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 scoreline and produced a handful of double faults and unforced errors. He may need to do better next time out, when he could face Novak Djokovic or Fabrice Santoro, as he bids to make the quarter-finals and edge out at least two of Tommy Haas, Tommy Robredo, Thomas Berdych, Guillermo Cañas and James Blake, his rivals for the two remaining places available at the Masters. Six players have already qualified.

Murray said: "I think all the players are thinking about it [the Masters Cup]. But the last round was disappointing, everyone won. Robredo won, Haas won, Berdych won, Canas won. I need these guys to lose to have a shot. But I'm just happy to be in with a chance after missing three months with a wrist injury."

Both men restarted where they left off and there were no early break points, although Murray started to look increasingly tetchy. Nieminen took advantage to break Murray just one point after having a winner overturned following an on-court appeal. But the first break of the match was followed immediately by another as Murray levelled the scores before following up with a second consecutive break, producing a clinical cross-court volley at the net to seal his third successive game. The 20-year-old then closed the set 6-3 to wrap up the tie. The victory takes Murray [back] to within three points of eighth-placed Haas in the race, but all the main contenders are still going in Paris.