AFP, Cincinnati :
Andy Murray returned to the ATP Tour on Monday after last competing at Wimbledon, reaching the second round of the Cincinnati Masters with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Frenchman Richard Gasquet.
The three-time Grand Slam champion who owns two titles here and played the 2016 final, has been struggling over the summer with a groin strain.
Wild card Murray and Gasquet, a longtime rival whose 53rd ranking meant he had to qualify, first played 15 years ago.
The Scot, who reached the Wimbledon third round, leads their series 9-4. They last met in 2019 here.
Murray hammered 14 aces and broke three times in the win lasting just under two hours.
After three games which lasted for a total of 20 minutes to start, Murray grabbed a 5-3 lead, which he lost a game later before re-breaking to win the first set 6-4.
