Andy Murray in flying form

Andy Murray got off to a flying start in his bid to win the ATP World Tour Finals at The O2.

The British number one beat US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 in the first of his round robin matches yesterday. Murray made a superb start, opening up a 5-0 lead in the first set against a lacklustre Del Potro.

The Argentine rallied to pull back three games but Murray sealed the set in front of 17,000 fans, including West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola, at the arena.

Del Potro took the second set, twice breaking Murray’s serve, to set the partisan fans hearts fluttering but the Scot upped his game in the third set to claim the win.

Murray was delighted to get off to a winning start.

He said: “It was a really good start. Me and Juan haven’t played that much since the US Open and I kind of expected a little bit of a scrappy match.

“It was tough. When I was 5-0 up and he got back to 5-3, he had game points in every single game in the first set. He was playing a little bit better.

“I’m happy I managed to come back in the third, because he was playing well.”

He also enjoyed the atmosphere at The O2

He said: “It was great. It’s different. You can’t see the crowd when you’re on the court, it’s so dark, but you can obviously hear them.

“It was a great atmosphere. It’s not as much interaction with the crowd but the atmostphere was excellent.”

The win means Murray faces Roger Federer tomorrow in a match that will probably determine who wins their group.