Indian Wells, California  - Andy Murray began the concluding week of tennis' Indian Wells Masters on sparkling form, reaching the last 16 with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-2 victory over Paul-Henri Mathieu on Monday.

The Scot seeded fourth needed only an hour and a quarter to earn his third win without a defeat against the Frenchman ranked 33rd. Murray fired six aces and broke five times to roll through.

The result improved Murray to 17-1 on the season, which has included titles at Doha and Rotterdam, where he beat number 1 Rafael Nadal for the trophy.

Mathieu is one of eight French players in the Top 50, with four now remaining in the desert event. Murray, who lifted two Masters titles in 2008, notched his 50th career victory at the elite level with his win over Mathieu.

Three-time winner Roger Federer was playing later, taking on the huge serve of Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic.

In women's play, Polish seventh seed Agnieszwa Radwanska crushed Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1, 6-4. (dpa)