Andy Murray despite producing a top drawer performance produced yet another straight sets victory against Frenchman Florent Serra. The Scot winning in under two hours 7-5 6-1 6-4.

He will next face American John Isner in the fourth round.

Murray started the match well racing into a 3-0 lead, though some sloppy play allowed Serra back into the match and he eventually had work hard to avoid the set going to a tiebreak.

The second set was a walk in the park with Murray conceding just 1 game and despite a dip of form in the third the world number 4 was able to snuff out the challenge of Serra to record his 3rd consecutive straight sets win at this years Australian Open.

This is the third time Murray has reached the 4th round at the Australian open after being beaten at the same stage in 5 sets by Fernando Verdasco in 2009 and in 5 sets by Rafael Nadal in 2007, his two other Oz open adventures seen him lose in the first round to eventual finalist Tsonga in 2008 and Juan Ignacio Chela in 2006.

Murray’s opponent in the 4th round this time, 33rd seed John Isner,  beat the 12th seed Gail Monfils 6-1 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) in his third round match.

After Murray’s match he spoke to reporters,

The first set was a bit closer than it needed to be. I had chances to go 4-0 up, didn’t take them, and he started to get into it a little bit, But to win in straight sets is really important. Especially the second set was good.  - Isner is tough, he won last week and beat Andy Roddick at the US Open. He is 6’9″ and causes people problems.

Andy Murray takes on Frenchman Florent Serra in the third round of the 2010 Australian Open. The match will be 3rd on the Hisense Arena court with 2 ladies singles on previously giving a start time around 2pm local time (3am UK time).

Florent Serra is currently the world number 64, though was as high as 36 back in 2006. This is the first Australian Open that he has made it to the thrid round, with only 2 previous wins at the grand slam event in the past 5 attempts in Melbourne.

He has won two ATP level tour events, though his last success was back in 2006 in Adelaide.

Murray and Serra have never played each other in an ATP event, though Murray’s record against French players is outstanding having won the last 17 matches he has played against French player, though his last loss to a Frenchman was at the 2008 Australian Open when he lost surprisingly in the first round to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Tsonga though did go on to surprise everyone and in the end reach the final.

Odds wise the bookmakers do not give Florent Serra a chance, with the best odds you will get on a Murray win is 1/50 (decimal odds 1.02). Many bookmakers will give those Murray’s odds, though if you were planning onbacking serra then you’ll get best odds at Betfair with currently offering of 33/1. Plus right now you can get a free £25 bet at Betfair.

All of the second round matches are complete and the draw for the third round is now ready.

In the bottom half Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick all cruised through their second round matches. In the night match though Juan Martin Delp Potro was forced into an epic 5 set match by American  James Blake, eventually winning 10-8 in the 5th set.

Many people’s dark horse of the bottom half,14th seed Marin Cilic also was forced into a 5th set by 17-year-old Australian Bernard Tomic eventually winning 6-4 in the 5th set.

Andy Murray will take on another Frenchman, Florent Serra in the third round, whilst 2nd seed Rafael Nadal meets the 27th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber. Juan martin Del Potro should have a more comfortable 3rd round match against German Florian Mayer and Andy Roodick takes on former top 20 player Feliciano Lopez.

On paper the closest match of the third round in the bottom half of the draw is 33rd seed John Isner v 12th seed Gael Monfils – the winner of that match will face the winner of the Andy Murray match.

In the top half of the draw Roger Federer and Nikolay Davydenko cruised through their 2nd round matches and still on course for a mouth watering quarter final match together. On Saturday Roger Federer will next face 31st seed Albert Montanes and Davydenko will take on 30th seed Juan Monaco.

Novak Djokovic battled back from dropping the first set against Marco Chiudinelli to win in four sets and he will next face unseeded Denis Istomin.

Matches to look forward to in the top half of the draw include home favorite Lleyton Hewitt taking on former top 10 player Marcos Baghdatis, who has been climbing up the rankings after injury. Another match to look out will be 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga taking on 18th seed Tommy Haas.