Andy Murray followed up Monday’s victory over Roger Federer by overcoming a determined Fernando Verdasco in the second round of the Barclays Dubai Championships.

However, the British No 1 needed a nervy 7-5 victory in a third set tie-break to overcome the Spaniard, to claim a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 win in a gruelling contest which lasted two hours and 25 minutes.

Murray had looked to be cruising to victory when he took the first set 6-3. But the Spaniard produced his best tennis of the match to take the second set at the same score before Murray showed his fighting qualities to come through.

"Against Roger Federer there was no pressure on me," he said. "But today I was expected to win and I did not really play that great. To play a match after winning against Federer is always going to be difficult mentally.

"Physically I felt fine - although I struggled with my knee slightly in the second set - but it was mentally a really tough match.

The 20-year-old, who beat Federer in three sets in the first round, had been a clear favourite after winning both his previous meetings with Verdasco. And so it was no surprise when he took the first set against the left-hander breaking serve in the sixth game when Verdasco produced a double fault. Murray consolidated the break, racing into a 5-2 lead, and although the Spaniard rallied, it was the British player who served out the first set with his third ace of the match.

Verdasco played some scintillating tennis at the start of the second set, racing into 3-0 lead. Murray, who by this time was becoming increasingly frustrated with his game, eventually found his rhythm as he came storming back to get the second set back on serve, trailing 4-3. Yet the Scot was unable to capitalise and Verdasco broke back in Murray’s next service game and maintained his composure to serve out the set and take the match to a decider.

Murray began the third set in convincing style, breaking in the sixth game to lead 4-2. However, Verdasco once again surged back to take the match into a final set tie-break.

The Scot grabbed the initiative in the tie-break as he raced into a 3-0 lead and he soon found himself with four match points, which was just as well as he needed every one, eventually closing out the match when Verdasco hit a forehand well over the baseline.

"These are the sorts of matches that are important to win," he added. "I have had some good wins this year but also some tough losses as well. I felt confident on the court, I am serving well and moving good and perhaps I just need to be bit more consistent from the baseline.

"I was pretty calm today but I was struggling to find the right shots and mishitting a lot of balls but I was just glad to get through by the end. Hopefully I can start to win these kinds of matches a bit more comfortably."

Murray faces Nikolay Davydenko, the fifth seed, in the quarter-final and the Scot knows it will be a massive test.

"Davydenko will be a tough match. He has been in the top 10 in the world for the past couple of years or so it's going to be a difficult match. He makes a lot of balls and is unbelievably fast around the court but I have a good record against him the last few times we've played so hopefully I can come out on top again."