• Miami Masters

Murray recovers to rout Ebden

Andy Murray began life without Ivan Lendl slowly, but recovered to rout Matthew Ebden © AP

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Andy Murray rallied from a break down in the third set to beat Matthew Ebden 3-6 6-0 6-1 at the Miami Masters.

The defending champion, playing for the first time since he parted with coach Ivan Lendl, conceded the first set softly, but won 12 of the next 13 games to run out a comfortable winner.

Murray forced two break points in the very first game, but Ebden responded with some impressive serving - then went on to break the Scot in the next. Ebden saved three more break points in the fifth game, but Murray again missed the opportunity and his opponent went on to see out the set.

But Murray flew out the blocks in the second set, breaking at the first attempt before saving two break points in the next to consolidate his advantage. Ebden had no response to Murray, who completed a second-set 'bagel' with net cord.

Murray was broken in the opening game of the deciding set, but responded by winning the next four as Ebden wilted in the Florida humidity.

He completed the rout on second match point.

"[Ebden] was playing well at the net in the first set," Murray said. "I had six break points, I think, but I couldn't convert.

"But I played better in the second and third set. I got broken right at the beginning of the third set, I played a sloppy game and needed to fire myself up, but I turned it around after that and won six games in a row."

Murray, who said before the match he was "gutted" by the split with Lendl, then paid tribute to his former coach and admitted "it was very different without him" and "it's been a hard few days".

He added: "He's been a big part of my career and to not have him around is going to be tough, but I just need to get on with it now and try to get back to playing my best tennis."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd