Murray eases through

Andy Murray did not have to be at his best as he wrapped up a comfortable victory in the first round of the Valencia Open 500.

Facing Spanish wildcard Daniel Gimeno-Traver, the Scot overcame a sloppy spell in the first set to secure a 6-3 6-1 win.

Murray started impressively on the Stadium Court and immediately raced into a 3-0 first-set lead with two breaks of serve – the first-serve percentages at that stage reading Murray 80%, Gimeno-Traver 27%.

He was pegged back to 4-3 after the Spaniard got one of the breaks back, but that was as close as the match got.

Murray took the next two games, closing out the set 6-3 with a third break on his second set point.

He broke in the fourth game of the second set – though he needed three attempts to do so – and from that point the result was never in doubt.

A Gimeno-Traver double fault brought up the break point from which the British number one went 5-1 up, and he then served out the match with the minimum of fuss.

Murray served three aces but two double faults in the match, which lasted for exactly an hour, while his 70% first-serve ratio in an improved second set will give him encouragement for his second-round clash with Leonardo Mayer.

The Argentinian upset Russia’s Igor Andreev 6-3 6-3 on Court One to take his place as the next obstacle in Murray’s path.