 Murray had received a bye through the first round in Toronto
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Defending champion Andy Murray outclassed Belgium's Xavier Malisse 7-5 6-2 to reach the third round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto.
Murray, who had a first-round bye, was slow to start and found himself a break down at 3-1 in the first set.
But the Scot broke back to make it 5-5 before powering to take the set 7-5.
Malisse never regained his composure long enough to trouble the world number four, who will face France's 15th seed Gael Monfils in the next round.
Murray's shot variety and all-round strength proved too much for his opponent whose game unravelled in a series of double faults and unforced errors towards the end.
"It was difficult, the first match in any tournament is tough and it's very warm," said Murray.
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"Malisse was hitting huge forehands and making it very difficult but I started playing higher towards the end of the first set which made it more difficult for him."
Murray has met third-round opponent Monfils three times before, winning twice.
"It will be a fun match against Monfils," said Murray, who won their last encounter on hard courts in Madrid in 2008.
"He is so fast, can jump incredibly high and reaches most balls, it's going to be difficult.
"I'm going to have to try and use some slice and angles to get him moving."
Malisse began confidently, his forehand in particular a potent threat as he broke Murray early on in the first set.
The Belgian, who beat world number 19 John Isner and Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych on the way to the semi-finals of the Legg Mason Classic in Washington DC last week, looked at ease as Murray struggled with a series of unforced errors.
But the turning point came in the 10th game when Murray's superior fitness allowed him to chase down a lob for a winner on the way to squaring the match at 5-5.
And the British number one broke again in Malisse's next service game to seal the first set before stepping up the quality in the second set.
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