MY ACCOUNT
Andy Murray made a winning start at the Qatar Open after defeating Taro Daniel 6-2 6-2 in Doha.
The three-time grand slam winner was beaten in straight sets when he faced Daniel in the second round at the Australian Open last month.
But he avenged that defeat with a dominant display against the world number 110 that saw him prevail in one hour and 20 minutes.
Murray boasts an impressive record at the ATP 250 event, lifting the trophy in 2008 and 2009 while reaching a further two finals (2007 and 2017).
And the 34-year-old wildcard will face second seed Roberto Bautista Agut in round two.
“Taro played very well in Australia,” Murray said. “He had a very good run there and was too good for me there.
“I tried to be the one dictating from the first point, and I thought I did that well. It was one of the better matches I’ve played in recent months.
“Obviously, the results from years ago aren’t going to affect the results this week.
“But what it tells me is that the conditions here are good for my game, so if I can play to a good level, the courts are going to suit me here, and I’ll make it difficult for everyone I play against.”
Elsewhere, seventh seed Alexander Bublik hit 25 winners – including seven aces – in a 6-2 6-4 victory over Slovakia’s Jozef Kovalik.
However, there was no joy for Lloyd Harris; the eighth seed was beaten in straight sets by Hungarian Marton Fucsovics for the second year running.
Over at Open 13 in Marseille, three-time winner Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overcame fellow wildcard Gilles Simon 6-2 6-4 in the battle of the players boasting five titles between them at the event.
But seventh seed Alexei Popyrin lost out in a deciding-set tie-break to world number 163 Roman Safiullin.
