JAMIE Murray reckons he and his brother Andy are too focused on their shared goal of finishing World No 1 in their chosen professions to waste too much time on small talk. While these two Scottish siblings bumped into each other yesterday in the gym while Jamie and his partner Bruno Soares were preparing for their impressive 6-3, 6-4 dismantling of Bob and Mike Bryan, socialising during tournaments is rare for these two men who have generally navigated their careers independently.

Yet by the time both men get home to Dunblane and dig out the Christmas jumpers, they would both rather like to be able to call themselves the best in the world at what they do. While Andy, having climbed to World No 1 in singles, is determined to fend off the challenge of Novak Djokovic to stay there at year-end, Jamie - the individual World No 1 in doubles as recently as April - and his partner Bruno Soares now know they will overhaul French duo Nicolas Mahut and Pierre Hugues Herbert as the top doubles team in the world if they can win every match right through to the final.

"It's just like another tournament," said Jamie. "You're on your own schedule, preparing for your matches individually. I mean, we saw him in the gym this morning because we were going out on the practice court after him. It's just a couple minutes here and there.

"We're both focusing on our things," he added. "But our goals for the week I'm sure are the same: to try to win, do the best we can. I don't imagine we'll be seeing each other that much till the weekend, if we're both there."

This was a fine performance from Jamie Murray and Soares, moving them onto two wins from two and banishing the memories of a painful defeat from the elder Murray sibling against the same opponents in the company of John Peers 12 months back. The Scottish/Australian pair lost 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 16-14 back in 2015 after squandering five match points, including four from 9-5 up. It was the last match they ever played together.

If they were popular winners yesterday, Andy too admits he has had more warmth extended to him at this year's ATP World Tour finals than ever before. He faces Kei Nishikori, the man who ended his hopes of a US Open victory in September, this afternoon. "The atmosphere helps – it is the best atmosphere I have played in since I have been here over the years," he said. "It means you get up for the match a bit more and it gets the adrenaline pumping."