Murray eases into Madrid tennis quarters

Defending champion Andy Murray has eased into the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open claycourt tennis beating Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-2.

Defending champion Andy Murray has eased into the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open tournament. (AAP)

Second seed Andy Murray put on another impressive performance on clay on Thursday, defeating Gilles Simon 6-4, 6-2 to reach the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open.

Murray broke the French No.16 seed's serve in the final game of the first set and twice in the second to stay on track to defend his title.

It was a rematch of the 2008 final in Madrid, when Murray won his first title at the tournament.

Murray will face Portugal's Joao Sousa or Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in the last eight.