Andy Murray has won his first tennis match at the Japan Open since he triumphed at the US Open last month.
The Scot defeated 6ft 10in Croat Ivo Karlovic 7-6 6-4 and will face Slovakian world number 65 Lukas Lacko in the next round.
Karlovic smacked a stunning 16 aces although Murray never faced a break point in a serve-dominated match.
Murray is the defending champion in Tokyo, having come from a set down to defeat Rafael Nadal last year.
The 25-year-old is also aiming to defend the doubles title he achieved with his elder brother Jamie.
Andy Murray Beats Ivo Karlovic
TENNIS-ATP-JPN(01 of17)
Andy Murray of Britain returns a shot against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during their men's singles first round match at the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 2, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
TENNIS-ATP-JPN(02 of17)
Ivo Karlovic of Croatia returns a shot to Andy Murray of Britain during their men's singles first round match of the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 2, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(03 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Ivo Karlovic of Croatia plays a forehand in his first round match against Andy Murray of Great Britain during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(04 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Ivo Karlovic of Croatia plays in his first round match against Andy Murray of Great Britain during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(05 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Andy Murray of Great Britain gestures as he plays in his first round match against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(06 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Andy Murray of Great Britain in action during his first round match against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
TENNIS-ATP-JPN(07 of17)
Andy Murray of Britain returns a shot against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during their men's singles first round match at the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 2, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
TENNIS-ATP-JPN(08 of17)
Andy Murray of Britain shouts after losing a point against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during their men's singles first round match at the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 2, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
TENNIS-ATP-JPN(09 of17)
Andy Murray of Britain stretches for a ball from Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during their men's singles first round match at the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 2, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
TENNIS-ATP-JPN(10 of17)
Andy Murray of Britain hits a ball to show his frustration after losing a point against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during their men's singles first round match at the Japan Open tennis tournament in Tokyo on October 2, 2012. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(11 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Andy Murray (L) of Great Britain shakes hands with Ivo Karlovic of Croatia after winning his first round match during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(12 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand in his first round match against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(13 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays in his first round match against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(14 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand in his first round match against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(15 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Andy Murray (L) of Great Britain shakes hands with Ivo Karlovic of Croatia after winning his first round match during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(16 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates a point in his first round match against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Rakuten Open - Day 2(17 of17)
TOKYO, JAPAN - OCTOBER 02: Andy Murray of Great Britain plays a forehand in his first round match against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during day two of the Rakuten Open at Ariake Colosseum on October 2, 2012 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)