Miami - Andy Murray said Thursday that his health and fitness are fast-improving after last month's virus scare as the fourth-seeded Scot prepares for his start at the Miami Masters.

For once, Murray is sleeping in his own bed in the pulsing South Florida metropolis, staying in the flat he bought last year.

"I've spent a lot of time here in the last year and a half or so, obviously training, and taken a couple of holidays here as well," said Murray, who devoted his December to fitness work in the Miami area.

"It's obviously nice to get to stay in your own bed at the tournament. That doesn't happen too much throughout the year."

US players took to the court en masse on the second day of play, producing four wins from six matches.

Good friends Sam Querrey and John Isner led the way, with Californian Querrry beating Gilles Muller 6-4, 6-3 and Isner easily stopping Ukrainian Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4,
6-4.

They were joined in the second round by Amir Delic, a winner over Belgian Steve Darcis 6-4, 7-6 (7-2), and Bobby Reynolds, who defeated Argentine Juan Chela 0-6, 7-5,
6-4.

Jesse Levine and Ryan Sweeting took the day's two home losses.

In women's play, German Anna-Lena Groenefeld stopped US veteran Jill Craybas 6-4, 6-1, and US player Alexa Glatch beat Swiss Timea Bacsinszky 6-4, 6-1.

While Murray has all his home comforts in Miami, the world number 3 is most relieved by his all-clear several weeks ago from doctors who first thought he might be suffering from glandular fever.

The 21-year-old had to quit last month in Dubai, heading home to Britain for tests. While weakened even after a week of rest, Murray then pulled up fine in California at the Indian Wells Masters, where he surprised himself with a finals appearance against Rafael Nadal.

"I was lucky I only had to play once back to back days, before the final. Obviously I was recovering decent after the matches because I had some time," Murray said.

"I was expecting to feel pretty rough on the court and struggling with my breathing. I had put in a lot of hard work in December and had some reserves there. I feel this week, coming in, I'm much better prepared."

The Scot said that doctors had feared he might be suffering with glandular fever, as did Roger Federer in early 2008.

"When I had the first batch of sort of tests done, I got told it's not glandular fever, and then the next morning I got a call saying this it could be. Then I was starting to panic a little bit," Murray said.

"I was obviously pleased it wasn't that, because it's a pretty debilitating illness. I'm just happy I'm feeling good again." (dpa)