It may not have been pretty but Andy Murray survived a brutal early Lukas Rosol onslaught to book his place in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Working extremely hard for his victories was a regular theme for Murray in Acapulco last week and there was no change here as he overcame Rosol 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the heat of the California desert.
It sets up a last-32 meeting on Monday with another Czech, 20-year-old former junior world No 1 Jiri Vesely, who impressively beat the No 32 seed Pablo Andujar 6-1, 2-6, 6-1.
Focused: Andy Murray beat Lukas Rosol in three grueling sets under the sun of Indian Wells
Drifting away: Rosol put up a tough fight winning the first set but tailed away towards the end
Drifting away: Rosol put up a tough fight winning the first set but tailed away towards the end
This tournament, the first Masters 1000 event Murray has played this year, is another crucial step as the world No 6 continues to try and rediscover his best form following his back surgery last September.
The signs are good that that will eventually come with Ivan Lendl revealing earlier this week that Murray's assistant coach Dani Vallverdu felt his narrow semi-final loss to Grigor Dimitrov in Mexico last week was actually the best match he had played this year.
This, however, certainly was not, although playing the big-hitting Czech world No 47 Rosol, famous for upsetting Nadal in the second round at Wimbledon in 2012, was never going to provide the most ideal start to this tournament in terms of rhythm.
Although it took until the 21st point of the match for a point to be won against serve, the match took on a very different feel from then on.
Moments after Murray had called a double bounce against himself, he was not exactly repaid for his sportsmanship when Rosol took the first break of the match for 4-3 with a stunning flat forehand winner down the line.
Encounter: The Scot may have to play Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals if they both reach that stage
Three set victory: A smiling Murray was happy to come through the match unscathed
Two more breaks followed before Rosol served out the set with another powerful forehand down the line.
Memories of Murray's early second-round exits in 2011 and 2012 came flooding back when he went a break down at the start of the second set.
However, the tide began to turn when he responded with the immediate break back. Rosol's error count began to rise as he continued with the tactic of going for a winner on anything remotely resembling a short ball.
In contrast, Murray's depth and defence improved as he broke for 4-2 before serving out the set to level the match.
Questioning: Rosol argues after a line call during the first set which he went on to win
On the stretch: Murray reaches for a return in front of the capacity crowd
Murray's fitness and experience and the fact that Rosol has not beaten anyone in the top 15 since that famous victory over Nadal 21 months ago told in the deciding set as the Brit took an early break before consolidating with the hold after a lengthy second game.
A stunning forehand cross-court pass helped Murray to a double break before he completed the win in one hour and 45 minutes as Rosol hit wide.
Murray said: 'I don't know if it's the conditions or whatever reason it is, but I have never really started this tournament that well.
Slash and swipe: Rosol is well known for his victory over Nadal at last year's Wimbledon
Blaring sun: Murray powers down another serve during his second round match in Indian Wells
'I have always struggled, especially in the first match, so just have to try and find a way to get through.
'I think if you watch the things I did differently in the second and third sets, I was dictating a lot of the points.
I would use my forehand a lot more.
'You have to make him miss balls because when he's in the middle of the court dictating it's very tough.'
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