Top seeds Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic cruised into the third round of the Shanghai Masters yesterday as defending champion Andy Murray progressed without even picking up a racquet.

As the tournament kicked into life with the introduction of the big guns, America’s Sam Querrey sent Kei Nishikori tumbling 2-6, 6-1, 6-4 just days after his opponent became the first Japanese to win the Japan Open.

Federer, battling to cling on to his top ranking, beat Taiwanese qualifier Lu Yen-hsun 6-3, 7-5 to set up a clash with fellow countryman Stanislas Wawrinka.

Federer’s build-up to the Shanghai tournament was clouded by a death threat from a blogger in China, but the Internet user, in a fresh posting, later apologised. He remained at large.

Djokovic, who will regain the world number one ranking if he wins the title and Federer loses before the quarter-finals, dismissed Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 6-2 in just 54 minutes.

“Very pleased with my serving in Beijing and obviously the first match today,” said the second seed, who lost just five of his service points.

“So, that’s something that I’ve been working on, obviously.”

The Serbian will next play Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who beat German 16th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4.

US Open champion Andy Murray did not even have to take to the court as Germany’s Florian Mayer withdrew with a rib injury, giving the Scot a walkover.

“I’ll practise again, you never know whether it’s a good or a bad thing. I mean, you’re obviously prepared to play the match,” said third seed Murray, who next faces Alexandr Dolgopolov, of the Ukraine.

There were wins for fourth seed Tomas Berdych, fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, sixth seed Janko Tipsarevic and 13th seed Wawrinka.

As the season enters its final stages there are four places still up for grabs at next month’s season-ending World Tour Finals in London. Federer, Djokovic and Murray have all qualified, along with the injured Rafael Nadal.