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Murray stutters past Berrer in Dubai

Andy Murray was given a real workout in the Dubai heat © Getty Images

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Andy Murray shrugged off a wobble before recovering to beat Michael Berrer 6-3 4-6 6-4 in the Dubai Duty Free Championship.

The British No. 1 has not tasted tournament action since losing in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, a break that afforded him the chance to work on his game under the gaze of new coach Ivan Lendl.

Murray is hopeful the input of Lendl will set him on a path to grand slam glory and the trip to Dubai gave him the chance to put his new plans into action. It did not all go to plan as Berrer showed excellent steel to rally from a set down and force a decider, but Murray recovered to progress.

He came up against an opponent who worked his way through qualifying and it showed in the first game, with Murray tentative on serve and Berrer extremely sharp. World No. 116 Berrer passed up three break-point chances, but won a volley exchange at the fourth time of asking to get his nose in front.

That early plus point for Berrer was quickly snuffed out as Murray broke back immediately - sealing the game with an exquisite lob that teased the German all the way to the point it landed on the baseline and jumped out of his reach.

Berrer crafted a break point in the fifth game, but Murray's speed was in evidence as he tracked down a drop shot and pushed a backhand down the line for a winner. Murray held serve and broke through one game later to take a stranglehold on the set which he secured in 40 minutes.

A couple of service holds were traded in the second set before Murray cranked things up to break. At 0-40, Berrer had the look of a desperate man and he charged the net in behind a poor approach and could only look in as Murray flashed a winner down the line.

If Lendl is eager to improve Murray's concentration levels and focus, there is still work to be done as no sooner had he broken through in the second set he handed the advantage back. Berrer deserves credit for crashing a clean winner to set up the break and converting with a fierce backhand that forced Murray to net a volley, but it was a battle the Brit should really have avoided by backing up his break with a strong hold.

Berrer attempted to take advantage of Murray's mini-malaise by working a couple of break points in the eighth game but Murray staved off the threat with four huge first serves to hold from 15-40.

Murray's body language was far from good at times and he was left muttering under his breath as Berrer secured the second set when he netted a backhand down the line.

Team Murray looked relaxed in his box, aware their man had not lost to a player outside the top 40 in the world since March 2011, but the Brit looked anything but as on two occasions he surrendered his serve after working a break.

Murray's failure to stamp on his opponent handed belief to Berrer and he edged ahead in the final set when holding for the first time at 3-2, with Murray showing signs of fatigue when making a lame effort to track down a drop shot.

Despite blowing hard and trudging wearily between points Murray was able to hold, but he was left slapping his thigh in frustration in the following game as Berrer held serve as Murray groundstrokes flew off at alarming angles.

Murray was able to hold his own serve and at 4-4, he finally imposed himself on the Berrer serve. A chip and charge got him in front and he forced errors from his opponent that had not been in evidence for the previous hour. Murray broke through to lead 5-4 and he fell over the finishing line with a strong hold.

Up next for Murray is Marco Chiudinelli after he fought his way into round two with a 6-4 5-7 6-4 win over Nikolay Davydenko.

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