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Andy Murray was made to work hard in his opening match at Wimbledon before overcoming American Robert Kendrick 7-5 6-7 6-3 6-4 on Centre Court.

Murray took the first set after three breaks of serve were exchanged, before Kendrick hit back to win the second on a tie-break.

The loss in the breaker clearly jolted the British third seed, and he upped his intensity to overwhelm Kendrick, taking the next two sets with a minimum of fuss to set up a second-round clash with Latvian Ernest Gulbis.

Kendrick, ranked 76th in the world, endeared himself to the Centre Court crowd with his tenacity and persistence, despite being second best for prolonged spells.

The match was the culmination of a superb day's play at Wimbledon, with glorious sunshine and packed crowds at SW19 setting the scence for the British hopeful.

Murray wasted little time putting his opponent under pressure with a break of serve in the opening game to seize the initiative.

If early complacency was beginning to set in among the British fans, and Murray himself, it was quickly banished when Kendrick broke back in the eighth game.

Assisted by new balls, Murray perhaps strived for too much too early, and was forced into two errors to relinquish his advantage in the first set.

With a first set tie-break looking imminent, Kendrick was broken for a second time at 5-5, and Murray was clinical in closing out the set with two ruthless games.

The second set moved inexorably towards a tie-break, and when it came Kendrick pounced to level match, taking it 7-3 with some inspired play.

To his credit, Murray was undeterred by his opponent's sudden resurgence, and the Brit broke in the sixth game of the third set, seizing on a shaken Kendrick, who was foot-faulted in the opening point of the game.

The American clearly lost his composure from that point onwards, and double faulted in the following point before Murray lashed a forehand cross court to seal the break.

After Kendrick had planted a regulation forehand into the net at 15-15, Murray held his composure to take the third set and regain the ascendency.

The Brit was urged to victory by his usual vociferous support, and he broke his opponent once more in the fifth game of the fourth set.

Another foot fault upset the American's rhythm, and Murray capitalised with two crisp forehands winners, as his opponent grew increasingly despondent.

Kendrick began to entertain the crowd in the closing games, sensing that his opportunity had passed, while a stoic Murray remained focused until an over-hit forehand from his opponent handed him the victory.

A clenched fist and a relieved expression marked an efficient and professional performance from the world number three.

Dan Quarrell / Eurosport