Japan's Kei Nishikori has made light work of German qualifier Matthias Bachinger in a commanding 6-3 7-6 (7-3) opening win in the first round of the Halle Open in Germany.
Nishikori claimed his triumph was more difficult than it looked after taking 82 minutes to advance into the next round.
"I think I played very solid this match today," said Nishikori, who has twice reached the semi-finals of the Halle event.
"He's never an easy player, especially I think on grass, he can be dangerous. He was coming to the net really well."
Next up for Nishikori in the second round is either Mischa Zverev or Russia's Karen Khachanov, who lost to Mischa's brother, Alexander Zverev, at the French Open.
Spain's Roberto Bautista-Agut saved four break points en route to claiming a 6-4 6-1 win over Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.
The bad news for local hopes continued when Maximilian Marterer was beaten in three sets by Japan's Yuichi Sugita 6-4 5-7 6-3.
French Open finalist Dominic Thiem moved through with a 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 win over Mikhail Youzhny of Russia.
Australia's Matthew Ebden gets his campaign under way against Malek Jaziri on Tuesday while world No.1 Roger Federer faces Aljaz Bedene.
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