Fabulous early-hitting there from Murray, taking the ball on the rise and finishing things off with a sweet cross-court backhand.
Djokovic could not maintain that spectacular level, however, and Nadal came roaring back at the start of the crucial third set, with a quite brilliant cross-court backhand helping him to break for 2-1.
But Jankovic had just too much power as a huge cross-court backhand set up a fourth chance, and an equally heavy forehand winner put the former world number one into a seemingly decisive 5-3 lead.
Another hold to love put Federer within a game of the 23-minute opening set and he took it at the second time of asking by unleashing a rasping cross-court backhand to pass Soderling at the net.
The first four games went with serve - Murray winning both of his to love - but the Scot was stunned in game five when Montanes capitalised on his fourth break point with a stunning cross-court backhand winner.
Gulbis did well to hang in for most of the third set as the boisterous New York crowd willed him to make a fight of it, but Murray finally made the breakthrough in game 11 with a fantastic cross-court backhand winner and he served out for a comfortable victory.
In summer, they can improve their backhand on the tennis court, ride a horse in the forest and hit the beach for a swim.
From there, he can step around his backhand and smash forehands, either to the opposite court or down the near sideline.
WSJ: Rafael Nadal, the Underrated Tactician, Stalks Novak Djokovic
In the end, it was Davydenko who brought the world number three back into the match with a poor game at 4-4, making a backhand error before going for too much on a cross-court forehand and dragging it into the tramlines on break point.
In Rome this year, Nadal attempted 15 first serves to Djokovic's forehand in the deuce court, compared to 10 down the center "T" to his backhand, according to Craig O'Shannessy, a strategy analyst who compiles data on pro tennis.
WSJ: Rafael Nadal, the Underrated Tactician, Stalks Novak Djokovic
Andy will be down at Wimbledon in the week beforehand working tirelessly to get that backhand and first serve firing consistently, but it's about taking your game from the practice court to the match court.
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