Andy Murray pleased to avoid early drama

(GETTY IMAGES)

Andy Murray was relieved to have come through his opening match at the Australian Open today with "no drama".

The world number five got the better of Karol Beck after the Slovakian was forced to retire due to a shoulder injury when 6-3 6-1 4-2 down and staring defeat in the face.

All in all, it was a good work out for Murray, and he expressed his delight afterwards at having suppressed the nerves and doubts which accompany an opening match at a grand slam event.

He said: "Like I said before the tournament, everyone always has slight doubts before the start, you are always a bit nervous.

"But getting off to a good start, getting a break early in the match does help a lot, which I managed to do.

"It is nice to be through to the second round with no drama."

On paper, a meeting between fifth seed Murray and Beck, ranked 101 and with just one ATP Tour win to his name in 2010, looked a complete mis-match and so it proved. Beck had his moments but Murray's superior all-round game was decisive.

Murray, chasing his first grand slam crown, took the first set after breaking in Beck's first service game and ran through the second as he upped his game, combining stoic defence with some spectacular winners which thrilled a noisy crowd on Hisense Arena.

The Slovakian took a medical timeout at 2-1 down in the third but battled on bravely until dropping his serve once more to hand Murray a 4-2 lead.

Sensing he was not going to turn it around, Beck offered his hand at the net rather than carry on and risk further damage.

"I don't know exactly when he hurt himself but he was serving pretty well up until the end of the second set," added Murray.

"I thought it was a pretty good match.

"I started well, wasn't great at the end of the first set then played better in the second.

"You'd rather finish the match off without your opponent being hurt but it does happen quite a lot so you just have to move on and get ready for the next round."

Next up for the British number one is Illya Marchenko, who beat Josh Goodall in three tie-break sets to give Ukraine a 1-0 lead in a Davis Cup tie in Glasgow in March 2009.

Marchenko was an impressive 6-3 6-4 6-1 winner against Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo today and Murray admits he is an opponent he does not know much about.

"I don't really know him that well, I saw him play a little bit when Ukraine played Great Britain in Davis Cup," he added.

"That was obviously quite a while ago and he has improved a lot since then.

"I don't know his game that well."

Beck, who admitted afterwards he had been feeling his shoulder in the days leading up to the match, believes Murray is certain to reach at least the quarter-finals.

"He is playing pretty well," he said.

"I don't know the draw but I think for sure he could go into the last eight."