World number two Murray faces the controversial 31-year-old for the first time since Munich in 2015 when Rosol bumped into him at a changeover during their quarter-final.

“No one likes you on the tour,” Murray told him. “Everyone hates you.”

But Murray, the reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion, insists that the bad blood is a thing of the past and will not impact their opening round meeting at Flushing Meadows next week.

“I spoke to him after the match and it was fine. A few things happened when we were on the court,” said Murray on Friday.

“I have actually gotten along fine with him apart from that day. He’s a tough, tough opponent, a big, strong guy. He goes for his shots and takes a lot of risks.”

Rosol, ranked at 93 in the world, rose to prominence in 2012 when he dumped Rafael Nadal out of Wimbledon.

Murray, a three-time semi-finalist, had needed two five-set matches and three days of play to get to the last 32.

But on Friday the 29-year-old needed just a shade under two hours to beat 6ft 11in (2.11m) Karlovic 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).

It was his seventh win in seven matches against the 37-year-old as Murray goes on to face either John Isner of the United States or Teymuraz Gabashvili of Russia.

“Especially at the end it was very close. I got off to a quick start and against someone like Ivo that’s very important,” said Murray.

“I was glad to win that tiebreak at the end.”

Canada’s eighth seed Milos Raonic overcame a left hip injury to defeat Slovakian lucky loser Andrej Martin, the world number 133, and reach the last 16 for a second time. AFP

Fresh from winning back-to-back titles in Munich and Madrid, Murray was once seen sporting his wedding ring tied around his shoelaces as he beat France’s Jeremy Chardy 6-4 6-3.

“I won’t lose it if it’s tied to my shoelace,” Murray told Sky Sport Italia. “As soon as the match is over I put it back on.

“If I’d keep it in my bag I’d have lost it already.

Murray, who married Kim Sears last month, faced two break points in the sixth game of the opening set as Chardy tried to create another early upset after knocking out Roger Federer in the same round here 12 months ago.

But Murray held on to breeze through the rest of the match by outfoxing Chardy with his touch, powerful serve and backhand dropshots.

“I felt a little tired at the start but my condition got better as the match went on,” added Murray, who had never won a claycourt title until his recent golden run.

“I’m a little surprised with my clay results. I hope to keep it up (my form) until Roland Garros.”

Murray will play Belgian David Goffin in the next round, after he saved three match points against Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga before coming through 6-2 4-6 7-5.

Second seed Federer did not face a single break point in a comfortable 7-6(3) 6-4 victory over Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas and will now play giant South African Kevin Anderson in

the third round.

Seven-time Rome champion Rafa Nadal, who is still searching for his best form this season, swatted aside Turkish qualifier Marsel Ilhan 6-2 6-0.

That set up a third-round clash against big-serving American John Isner, who progressed following a 7-6(6) 6-4 win against Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer

“It’s going to be very difficult,” Nadal said. “I hope to continue progressing.”

In the women’s event, former world number one Victoria Azarenka had trouble closing out the match against fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki and needed five match points before edging past the Dane for the third time this year 6-2 7-6(2).

Second seed Simona Halep crushed American Alison Riske 6-3 6-0, while seventh seed Ana Ivanovic fell to Russia’s Daria Gavrilova after a three-hour battle.

The former French Open champion saved seven match points but eventually fell 5-7 7-6(2) 7-6(7).