Andy Murray drops just one game as he makes short work of David Goffin at Paris Masters

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Andy Murray beat David Goffin in under an hour at the Paris Masters
Murray won 6-1, 6-0 against the Belgian No 1 ahead of the Davis Cup
Murray is due to play at the ATP World Tour finals and Davis Cup final

Published: 05:51 EST, 5 November 2015 | Updated: 17:27 EST, 5 November 2015

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You got the impression that Andy Murray did not have much time for the excuses offered by David Goffin after he had inflicted a pre-Davis Cup humiliation on the Belgian No 1.

Goffin said that he woke up on Thursday feeling exhausted prior to a 6-1, 6-0 battering at the hands of the 28-year-old Scot at the BNP Paribas Masters. The display should have sent a shiver through the home side, three weeks ahead of the final in Ghent.

About the biggest inconvenience of Murray’s morning came when a ballgirl inadvertently hit him with a throw as he was sitting down at a changeover drinking a bottle of water.

Andy Murray celebrates progressing at the Paris Masters after a straight forward win over David Goffin

Murray and Goffin shake hands at the net after a very one sided match at the Paris Masters

As he later pointed out, this is working out to be his busiest year ever. Before Friday's quarter-final against Richard Gasquet, he has already played 77 singles matches and 12 doubles.

With an overall singles record of 66-11 in 2015, he has equalled his previous best season of 2009 in terms of victories.

That will be reflected in the next ranking list, which is assured to see him back at world No 2 after Roger Federer was upset 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 by American giant John Isner and his 145mph serves.

The weary Goffin has played 61 singles matches this year, but the big difference is that he can now rest and focus exclusively on preparing for the final at Flanders Expo, where they began building the indoor clay court on Thursday.

Murray has the small matter of the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London before heading to Belgium — the challenge which remains uppermost in his mind.

His match against Goffin began just after 10.30am and was over almost in time for elevenses.

Neither player afterwards wanted to read too much into the result as the circumstances and the environment will be much changed when they next meet.

Murray was convincing in his win over Belgian Goffin in the Paris Masters

Goffin was unable to match Murray as he was swept away in under an hour at the Paris Masters

‘If he was exhausted today he has some time to rest and recover and get ready for it and I should be the one that’s very tired going into the Davis Cup,’ observed Murray. ‘I’ve won more matches this year than any other year so physically by the Davis Cup I shouldn’t really be feeling perfect.’

The surface will be different and there will be a feverish crowd behind Goffin in Ghent, but it must be doubtful whether the pleasing game style of the diminutive Belgian will pack a big enough punch to threaten to knock over Murray.

While Goffin pretty much discounted the outcome, Murray did not agree: ‘It’s obviously relevant because the match is only a few weeks away.

‘You learn how the ball comes off their racket and the speed of shot that he has and where he’s quick and where he doesn’t move so well or defend as well.

Murray was too strong for Goffin - a player he is likely to face at the Davis Cup

Murray is expected to play at the ATP world tour finals in London and then the Davis Cup

‘It was good to feel his shots in a match situation on an indoor court. I know the clay will be different but indoor conditions — they don’t normally change too much.

‘It was great to win for sure and I definitely wanted to play a good match, but I know that in a few weeks it will be tougher than that was.’

Of the tour’s nine Masters-level events, this is the only one where Murray has failed to reach the last four and he will try to put that right today.

Meanwhile, Federer had treatment on a sore arm when losing to Isner.

Federer said he had been feeling it since last week, when he won the Basel title, but he did not believe it would affect his participation at the Tour Finals.