Murray makes the right impression

Andy Murray allayed any doubts about his fitness to give Britain the perfect start to their Davis Cup tie with Holland at the NEC in Birmingham.

Murray's participation in the Euro-Africa Zone tie was in jeopardy earlier this week, but on Thursday the British number one said he was "93.42%" fit.

And there were no signs of the groin injury he suffered in Indian Wells last month as the 19-year-old won the opening rubber against Raemon Sluiter 6-3 7-5 6-2.

After holding serve with his first ace of the match, Murray quickly broke Sluiter's serve when the world number 140 sent an easy forehand volley wide.

Murray then had to save a break point in the fifth game as Sluiter settled down following a nervy start, but the Scot was never troubled subsequently and served out for a one set to love lead.

After the first four games of the second set went with serve, Murray had two chances to break Sluiter but failed to convert either.

The British number one then found himself 15-40 down on his own serve but this time it was the 28-year-old Dutchman, once ranked as high as 46th in the world, left ruing a missed opportunity.

The Dutch camp were becoming increasingly annoyed at a succession of debatable line calls and a superb backhand pass from Murray finally broke the Sluiter serve before he quickly wrapped up the set 7-5 for a 2-0 lead.

Murray sensed a straight-sets victory was there for the taking and slammed his racket to the floor in frustration after missing a break point early in the third set. He only had to wait two more points to break Sluiter's serve, however, and then saved four break points on his own serve to consolidate the break.

Another break gave Murray the chance to serve for the match and, to the delight of the capacity 7,500-strong crowd, the world number 11 duly completed victory to put Britain 1-0 ahead in the tie.