Andy Murray into Dubai Championships quarter-finals

Andy Murray beat Joao Sousa at the Australian Open in January

Britain's Andy Murray cruised into the Dubai Championships quarter-finals, taking just 57 minutes to beat Portugal's Joao Sousa 6-0 6-2.

Sousa, who has never won a set in five matches against the world number three, made 38 unforced errors.

Murray took the first set in 21 minutes against his Portuguese opponent, who then dropped his opening service game in the second set and never recovered.

The 27-year-old Scot plays Croatia's Borna Coric in the last eight.

Coric beat Marcos Baghdatis in unusual circumstances, as the Cypriot retired during the final set tie-break with the score at 4-4. Coric had won the first set 6-4 and lost the second 3-6.

Murray, who reached the final on his last appearance in Dubai three years ago, was a third-round victor in straight sets against Sousa, 25, at the Australian Open last month.

He won just as comfortably this time, as Sousa made 19 unforced errors in the opening set, which Murray secured with an ace.

The world number 50 did manage to get off the mark by winning the third game of the second set.

But Murray forced another break of serve to go 5-2 in front, before he served out the victory with the minimum of fuss.