Top seed Andy Murray set up an all-British quarter-final against Kyle Edmund at the China Open after he saw off Andrey Kuznetsov 6-2, 6-1, in Beijing, where there was also progress for Johanna Konta in the women's singles.
World No.2 Murray continued his return to action since suffering a thigh injury playing for Great Britain in the Davis Cup with another composed display to defeat the Russian without too much cause for concern.
After losing his opening service game, Murray recovered quickly with two breaks to lead 3-1.
Although Kuznetsov, the world No.45, rallied again to break back, the Scot remained on the offensive to push home another immediate break chance before closing out the set after 48 minutes with a fourth break.
Murray's momentum continued into the second set, where two breaks and a hold saw the 29-year-old Briton move 4-1 ahead.
Kuznetsov lost yet another service game to leave Murray on the brink of the last eight, which he secured with a love service game to complete his victory in one hour and 17 minutes.
Earlier, British No.2 Edmund beat Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets.
The 21-year-old, who provisionally moved into the top 50 after beating Guiilermo Garcia-Lopez in the first round in China, claimed a 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, victory against the world No.18.
The Davis Cup team-mates, who play in the top-half of the draw tomorrow, have met in competitive action just once, in the Aegon Championships at Queen's Club this year, where Murray came through 6-4 3-6 6-1.
"[On] the day of the match, it's always a little bit uncomfortable," said Murray about playing against his Davis Cup team-mate, "because normally when you see your friends and stuff in the locker room, you have a chat, joke around a bit. But on match days, it always tends to be a little bit more serious.
"Once you get out on the court and start competing, it's fine. After the match, again, it's always fine. But it's just sort of the couple hours before when you see each other in the locker room, it can be a little bit uncomfortable."
British women's No.1 Johanna Konta is, meanwhile, through to the third round after beating Timea Babos in straight sets.
Konta claimed a 7-5 6-2 victory over the Hungarian to boost her chances of reaching the WTA Finals in Singapore this month.
The 25-year-old, who is ranked 14th in the world, is ninth in the race to Singapore with the top eight qualifying for the tournament.
Konta will face Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic for a place in the quarter-finals after she came from behind to defeat Russian Daria Kasatkina 3-6 7-5 7-6 (9/7).
Konta's match had originally been scheduled for Tuesday, but was held over because of rain.
"I think I'm most pleased with coming through a match like that. I think both of us were struggling to find our level out there," Konta said.
"Definitely when there's been a rain delay and a day of play has been missed it does break up the rhythm a little bit, I think that showed in both our tennis out there.
"So it was just about who could compete a little bit better and I was fortunate I was able to find that little bit extra and come through that."
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