Andy Murray began his Australian Open campaign with a swift straight-sets win over Robin Haase in Melbourne.
The British number one eased to a 6-3 6-1 6-3 victory in just one hour and 37 minutes. Haase took Murray to five sets at the 2011 US Open, but any thoughts the Dutchman might extend him similarly this time were quickly blown away. Two early breaks of serve set the tone and the world number three was rarely troubled on his way to setting up a second-round tie with Joao Sousa of Portugal.
Murray’s Melbourne record
* 2012: Semi-final
* 2011: Runner-up
* 2010: Runner-up
* 2009: Fourth round
* 2008: First round
* 2007: Fourth round
* 2006: First round
Murray, the US Open champion, is trying to become the first man to follow up his maiden Grand Slam title with another major win. Scheduled first on Rod Laver Arena for his pening match, the Scot took full advantage by getting the job done before a predicted hot afternoon in Melbourne. Murray, 25, began to turn the screw as early as the third game, winning the kind of long and punishing rally that is the foundation of his game before drawing a wild volley from Haase to break. The advantage extended to 4-1 soon after, and when Murray then saw off five break points with some big serving the set was as good as his. A wayward drop shot gifted back one of the breaks, and possibly gave watching coach Ivan Lendl something to discuss in the post-match debrief, but otherwise it was plain sailing. Murray rolled through the second set in 26 minutes, working his man relentlessly from side to side, and broke to love at the start of the third with a backhand winner down the line. One final lapse allowed Haase a second service break of the match but it hardly detained Murray, who broke for the eighth time to secure the win.
