(CNN) -- Man of the moment Andy Murray needed less than an hour to book his place in the quarterfinals of the Japan Open in Tokyo Wednesday.
The defending champion beat Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-1 6-2 in 57 minutes at the Ariake Coliseum to book a clash against Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the last eight.
It was the Scot's ninth win in a row after his U.S. Open triumph where he beat Novak Djokovic in the final in New York.
Murray also won singles gold in the London Olympics, defeating Wawrinka on the way to his triumph at Wimbledon.
Andy Murray gets his hands on a grand slam trophy at last as he beats Novak Djokovic of Serbia to win the 2012 U.S. Open at Flushing Meadows.
Murray joins the grand slam club
Thousands lined the streets of the Scottish town of Dunblane to welcome home local hero and U.S. Open champion Andy Murray.
A hero's homecoming
Britain's Andy Murray wins U.S. Open
The World No.3 was on control from the start against Lacko, breaking him twice on the way to taking the opening set and then continuing the good work in the second.
"I began the match very well, which was nice because it was long day to get on," Murray told the official ATP Tour website.
"I started the match almost perfect. That was important. Once I got the break in the second set, I started to play better."
Murray holds a 7-4 winning career record against Wawrinka, who beat Jeremy Chardy of France 7-6 6-7 7-5 in a tight last 16 encounter.
Meanwhile, top seed Djokovic eased through his second round match at the China Open in Beijing.
Like Murray, the Serbian is playing in his first tournament since Flushing Meadows, and wasted little time in beating Argentina's Carlos Berlocq in straight sets.
Djokovic, who struggled past Germany's Michael Berrer in the first round, broke his opponent six times on his way to a 6-1 6-3 victory in one hour and 14 minutes.
In the accompanying WTA tournament at the same venue, Russia's Maria Sharapova began with a 6-2 6-2 win over Romania's Sorana Cirstea.
But Serbian pair Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic were third round casualties, losing to Romina Oprandi and Carla Suarez-Navarro respectively.
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Murray has reached two grand slam finals and won an Olympic gold medal since hiring Ivan Lendl. Even the great Czech player -- winner of eight majors -- needed four attempts before winning his first final.
Murray, seen here on court in the junior tournament during the 2002 Wimbledon Championships, went to Spain as a teenager to hone his tennis skills.
Murray announced himself as a player to watch with a emphatic victory in the final of the U.S. Open boys' tournament at Flushing Meadows in 2004. The then 17-year-old beat Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 6-4 6-2.
A 21-year-old Murray lined up against Roger Federer in his first grand slam final at the U.S. Open in 2008. It was a one-sided affair with Federer winning in straight sets 6-2 7-5 6-2 to pick up his 13th major.
Federer once again stood in the way of Murray at the Australian Open in 2010. The match was a bit closer than the 2008 final at Flushing Meadows, but Federer still ran out a comfortable winner 6-3 6-4 7-6.
Murray must have fancied his chances against Djokovic in 2011's Australian Open -- It was his third grand slam final and Federer wasn't his opponent. But his longtime friend provided equally stern opposition, thrashing the Scot 6-4 6-2 6-3.
Murray's fourth attempt to win a grand slam final got off to the perfect start at Wimbledon in July as he took the opening set 6-4 against Federer. But the Swiss champion fought back to win the next three sets, dashing British hopes of a first men's grand slam title since 1936.
Murray needed only a month to bounce back and beat Federer on the same courts to claim the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympics -- a victory that he later said gave him the confidence that he could win a grand slam.
Despite wet weather, eager fans waited for a glimpse of the world No. 4.
Murray, who beat Novak Djokovic in five sets to clinch his first grand slam title, spent four-and-a-half hours signing autographs and playing tennis with young fans at his former club.
It was also the first time Murray had returned home since he clinched the men's singles gold medal at the Olympic Games. Murray destroyed Roger Federer in three sets to take the title, while also winning mixed doubles silver for Team GB alongside Laura Robson.
Murray's mother Judy was also present to greet the crowds. Judy is a tennis coach and Britain's Fed Cup captain.
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