Tomas Berdych has battled past Jeremy Chardy in straight sets to reach the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Both players dropped serve twice during a cagey opening set before the fourth seed came through 7-2 in the tie-break.
Last year's runner-up Berdych then edged out his French opponent in the second to seal the win 7-6(2) 6-4 with just over 90 minutes gone.
The Czech will face either Simone Bolelli or Lucas Pouille for a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament.
