Indian Wells, California  - Andy Murray began a slow return to form after overcoming a virus that had laid him low for more than a week, advancing to victory in his opening match Saturday at the Indian Wells Masters 7-5, 6-3 over Albert Montanes.

The Scot fourth seed admitted that while he was not in top form, he did turn in a respectable showing against an opponent who has won a mere two matches this season.

"I thought I did well. I wanted to just give it 110 per cent," said the winner of two ATP titles so far in 2009.

"I saw that I wasn't going to play my best tennis, but it would be dumb to think like that. I moved my best for quite a while. I wasn't hitting the ball particularly well, but I moved well. After I went down a break in the first set I did well to come back."

Murray's win in one hour, 35 minutes, was his second this season over Montanes, ranked 35th. The Scot came back from a break down in the opening set to dominate and has now reached the third round following a bye given to leading seeds.

The winner said that after his health scare - he had been feeling poorly since the Australian Open in January - he kept his hopes modest.

"You just go in with a little bit less expectation. When you're not expecting to play your best and you go behind, you just deal with it a little bit better," Murray said.

"I don't change the way I play. You just to have try and work your way into the match. I got more solid as it went on."

Spain's number 15 Tommy Robredo went through Russian Igor Kunitsyn 6-1, 6-4, while Russian Igor Andreev beat Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 6- 4, 6-4.

Croatian Marin Cilic rallied past Belgian Steve Darcis, posting a 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-1 win.

Women's seventh seed Agieszwa Radwanska of Poland defeated Australian Samantha Stosur 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. dpa