Brilliant Murray into last eight

Andy Murray produced one of the best performances of his career to sweep aside Stanislas Wawrinka and reach the quarter-finals of the US Open.

The British number one, 21, dominated from the outset and wrapped up a 6-1 6-3 6-3 victory in one hour 49 minutes.

And the quality of Murray's play will have boosted his credentials as a real title contender at Flushing Meadows.

The Scot will next meet 19-year-old Argentine, Juan Martin del Potro, who is on a 23-match winning streak.

It will be the second consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final for Murray, who lost heavily to Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon and could face a rematch with the Spaniard in the last four in New York.

Murray must first beat the form man on tour in 6ft 6in Del Potro, who has won his last four tournaments and saw off Kei Nishikori of Japan 6-3 6-4 6-3 on Monday.

But if he can repeat the form of Monday night there is no reason Murray should fear anyone in the draw.

He had struggled at times in the early rounds, needing four sets to beat Michael Llodra before coming back from two sets down to beat Jurgen Melzer.

And with a 3-3 record against Switzerland's Wawrinka - the world number 10 - tournament officials clearly expected a titanic struggle when they gave the clash top billing as the night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It may have been the first time in the 20,000-seater arena for both men but Murray looked much the more comfortable from the start.

He broke Wawrinka three times in a flawless first set that saw him equally strong off both forehand and backhand from the baseline, and occasionally darting to the net to shorten the points.

Wawrinka managed to save a break point early in the second set and looked briefly threatening at 3-3, but Murray took the initiative again in game eight, stepping inside the baseline to force the errors and grab a vital break.

When under pressure at 0-30 while serving for the set, Murray again found inspiration with a blistering backhand winner and a deft drop volley.

And he wasted no time in moving clear in the third set, getting to 0-40 in game three and stepping inside the baseline to thump away another backhand return.

Murray broke again to seal the win and, from a player who sometimes struggles to maintain his form throughout a match, it was his most clinical display to date.