Andy Murray was triumphant in the first round of the Washington Open, but made hard work of beating world No 77 Mackenzie McDonald.
The former world No 1 and three-time major winner prevailed 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 in their clash that saw 10 breaks of serve in total.
He now plays British compatriot Kyle Edmund in the second round.
Murray has dropped to No 838 in the world after missing a year of action due a hip injury.
This was his third tournament since returning. After losing in the first round at Queen's in June and then the second round at Eastbourne, with his conqueror there being Edmund.
He missed Wimbledon due to not being confident of his body being fit enough to play five-set tennis yet.
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Murray went 2-0 up with an early break of serve against McDonald but then lost his next two service games as the American took the early advantage.
The two-time Wimbledon champion saved one break and set point in the ninth game at 15-40, but McDonald took the second to take the set 6-3 in 39 minutes.
Murray took the second set 6-4 in 47 minutes to take the game into a deciding third set.
The world number 832 broke McDonald's first service game but was immediately broken back.
But Murray clinched a second, and decisive, break in the ninth game of the set and held on to level the match at one set apiece.
The final set saw further breaks of serve, but Murray broke McDonald in the 11th game and that proved decisive as he served it out.
