MUNICH (AP) Top-seeded Andy Murray began his clay-court season with a routine 6-2, 6-2 victory over local qualifier Mischa Zverev to reach the BMW Open quarterfinals on Thursday.
Murray saved all of six break points he faced, including three in the final game while serving for the match. He broke serve for a 2-1 lead in the second set, and saved three break points in the next game before holding.
Zverev had little of the patience needed on clay, while Murray mixed his shots well. Murray took time off after his marriage, and practiced in Barcelona last week before arriving in Munich with the latest addition to his coaching staff, Jonas Bjorkman, a nine-time winner of Grand Slam doubles titles.
Murray, who has never won a title on clay, will next face Lukas Rosol. The Czech beat Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine for the first time, 7-5, 6-2.
Dominic Thiem of Austria upset eighth-seeded Fabio Fognini, last year's Munich runner-up, 6-3, 6-0.
Pablo Andujar, last week's runner-up in Barcelona, retired when he was down 4-1 against Gerald Melzer of Austria.
