DUBAI - Andy Murray brushed aside a spirited challenge from Igor Kunitsyn to book his place in the second round of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday.
The third seed, playing his first match since the Australian Open final, beat the Russian qualifier, ranked a lowly 90th in the world, 6-2 6-3 in one hour 41 minutes.
The British number one took almost a month off following his exertions in Melbourne, where he lost to Roger Federer in the showpiece, opting not to defend his title in Rotterdam - which cost him his world number three ranking - and then pulling out of the event in Marseille, much to the displeasure of the tournament organisers.
And, while not at his best, Murray, who has reached the quarter-finals on both his previous appearances in Dubai, was rarely tested on his return to the court.
Murray fired down 13 aces, but only managed 52% of first serves in - 60% in the first and just 45% in the second.
Murray broke to go 2-0 up after a mammoth second game, eventually closing out the game at the ninth time of asking, and from there never looked in serious trouble. (PA)