Big-serving Taylor Dent can send down his first-serve missiles at 145mph. But he had to watch them zip straight back past him marked “return to sender”.

The 22-year-old Scot dished out a thrashing to the 28-year-old American who is used to bullying his opponents with his power. And it all bodes well for Murray’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals. He plays Marin Cilic in the last 16 tomorrow and the Croatian is also one of the world’s big servers.

But Murray -- who silenced a huge New York crowd -- is confident that he can repel anything that is thrown at him.

“I practise service returns all the time,” he said, revealing he had come up with an unusual drill. Miles Maclagan, his coach serves at him from close in to make the shots seem harder and quicker.

“So I am used to returning hard serves,” he said.

The drill certainly works. Dent was left defenceless when his serve could not make inroads against Murray. The Scot then took an hour and a half to defeat the American 6-3, 6-2, 6-2. “I view returns as being as important as serves,” said the Scot who is regarded as the best returner in the world.

Murray was in fantastic form and he left the crowd wowed by his variety of shots. The Arthus Ashe stadium was packed with 20,000 partisan American who were ready to roar on Dent, Instead, they stayed to applaud Murray.

The Scot is now in good shape for the last push toward the final. He has had three excellent victories over Ernests Gulbis, Paul Capdeville and now Dent, losing only one set.

“I have played three different players. The first one was a big server who stayed at the back. The second one didn’t hit the ball that big, but had nothing to lose. Taylor is obviously a serve and volleyer.

“I thought I dealt with the different tests put in front of me pretty well. I will try to play like that in the next few matches.”

This suggests that Murray believes he is in New York for the long haul. Cilic lies in his direct path and Juan del Potro of Argentian will almost certainly await him in the quarter-finals.

But there has to be a doubt over the man Murray is scheduled to meet in the semi-finals.

Rafa Nadal, the world No.3, had treatment to a stomach injury during his victory over his countryman, Nicolas Almagro. The Spaniard, who has just returned to the game after surgery on his knees, hurt his stomach in Montreal. The 23-year-old would not discuss the injury at the post-match press conference, fuelling speculation that it was causing him severe pain.

Murray said: “I know he has had tape on his abs. Being in the locker room, we obviously can see that. You never know how bad it is.”

But the Scot knows that Nadal will play through the pain if he possibly can.

“You never know. These things can better in a couple of days, but they can get worse,” he said.

But Murray is just concentrating on his own game as the US Open heads towards the business end. “You just have to focus on your own matches, not what is going on for other players,” he said.

Looking forward to the match with Cilic, Murray said: “He’s tough. He’s got a big serve and moves pretty well for a tall guy. I’ll have to make sure I return well against him and be solid from the back of the court.”

He added: “It’s going to be a tough match.” But Murray proved last night in the heart of New York that he is as tough -- and talented -- as they come. Cilic will be quick but the Scot should be faster on the draw.