It would be doing his opponents here at the Australian Open a disservice to say that Andy Murray is feeling his way into the tournament, easing through the gears as he prepares for the intensity of the second week.

But having handled his first two, big-hitting opponents with almost disdain, Murray plans to use his third-round opponent, Joao Sousa of Portugal, as a way to find the rhythm he loves so much.

Murray’s 6-0, 6-4, 6-1 victory over the Australian Sam Groth was a demolition, the Scot ripping passing shots and lifting lobs over his advancing opponent with unerring regularity and placement.

It was a brilliant performance from the No 2 seed, a second straight-sets win, exactly what he needs if he is to stay fresh for the demands of a second week that will lead, if all goes to plan, to a fifth Australian Open final.

The fact that he has lost the other four is one of the things driving him on here and he toyed with Groth, who holds the record for the fastest serve at 263kmh (163mph), but who was torn apart.

Murray will take nothing for granted against Sousa, who took a set off him when they met at last year’s French Open, but is looking forward to getting into a few long rallies, having been deprived of them to this point.

“It is obviously a good match to get into a rhythm,” he said. “I’ll play a lot of long rallies, I’ll hit a lot of balls. I’ll hit way more balls than I did today so if I can get through that one, I think that can help me as well for the rest of the tournament just to get into a slightly better rhythm.”

The fact that he is thinking ahead is a good sign, if totally natural given that he is the world No 2 and considered the man most likely to dethrone Novak Djokovic.

Having helped Britain to Davis Cup glory in 2015, Murray is hoping to follow the same path taken by Djokovic in 2011, when he went on a tear after Davis Cup victory and won three grand slam titles.

Ever the pragmatist, Murray is also aware of those who have not built on success but knows the confidence gained from victory in Belgium should stay with him for a while.

“I think winning Davis Cup is obviously huge but a lot of players have won Davis Cup and become fathers and parents and it hasn’t meant that they’ve gone on to have the best years in their career or the most success ever,” he said, his first child due next month.

“I think winning helps and gives you confidence and belief and everything but I think the quality of the player is what’s most relevant.

“Psychologically, winning major competitions can help you as well and I’m sure that winning the Davis Cup helped Novak and helped most players that have won it.

“Whether I’ll go on to have the best year of my career, I have no idea whether I will but I’m going to try to, that’s for sure. I’ll just have to see what happens.”

So far, so good, though for Murray, whose game looks in smooth working order and who always seems to look fresh, mentally, at this time of the year, even this time.

“I think it’s started good,” he said. “I think I’ve played well. I’ve dropped my serve once in the first two matches and I actually haven’t served that well so that’s positive.

“I think it shows improvement in the second serve which is good. I think it’s been a good start. I still think I can play better.”

When Murray first joined the Tour, in 2005, Lleyton Hewitt was still close to the top of the game, making grand slam finals.

The Australian’s outstanding career – he won two grand slam titles, the Davis Cup twice and was world No 1 - said goodbye to the professional game last night as he was beaten 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 by Spain’s David Ferrer.

At 34, Hewitt may have enough metal in his body from various surgeries to set off a metal detector at airports but even in his last match, he scrambled and scrapped for everything.

He received a rousing reception throughout and Murray said he had been someone he had admired before and throughout his career.

“He was someone I loved watching growing up,” he said. “His attitude towards the competition, I loved.

“He fought extremely hard. This is his 20th Australian Open and he still has the same passion to win and compete as ever. I actually named one of my dogs after him (Rusty).

“He was an idol for me but then when I came on the Tour, he was always very polite and respectful with me and you remember that as you get older.

“It’s a shame that he’s retiring but he deserves a great send-off. He’s been amazing for tennis, for Australian tennis.”

Jamie Murray, meanwhile, began his bid for the doubles title with a good win as he and new partner Bruno Soares beat England’s Jonny Marray and Aisam-Ul-Haq Quereshi of Pakistan 6-4, 6-4 in round one.

It was a bitter sweet win for Murray, though, who has been sharing a house with former Wimbledon champion Marray in Melbourne.

“It’s unfortunate it happened obviously but just one of those things you have to deal with,” Murray said. “We went out for dinner last night and were laughing about it a bit. Obviously it was a little bit awkward, kind of hanging there in the air, but I think we both played a decent match. Fortunately for me, obviously, I won, but it was a shame we had to play each other.”