Tennis:Top seed Andy Murray secured his first title of 2012 in clinical fashion at the ATP Brisbane International with victory over Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov.
The British number one, under the watchful eye of new coach Ivan Lendl this week, took control of the final with a run of nine straight games en route to a 6-1 6-3 triumph.
Dolgopolov, who seemed to be struggling with a groin problem towards the end of the first set, rallied from 4-0 down in the second set to get back to 4-3, but Murray then raised his game again to close out the match.
The world number four set the tone with a solid opening game, sealing it with an ace. Dolgopolov swiftly levelled and looked set to provide a test for his opponent; he reeled off superb forehand and backhand winners in his first service game but from then on it was one-way traffic.
Murray held comfortably before putting daylight between himself and his opponent with the first break of the match on his third break point. And the Scot was not about to relinquish the advantage, holding serve to love before securing a second break in game six, when Dolgopolov seemed troubled by a groin injury.
That gave Murray the chance to serve for the set, and after saving two break points he duly got over the line. His dominance continued into the second set, with the world number 15 having no answer to the Australian Open runner-up.
Murray, who saw off Dolgopolov in the quarter-finals on his way to the final at Melbourne Park last year, raced into a 4-0 lead in the second set with his mix of aggressive and intricate play.
Dolgopolov showed great spirit to claw his way back into the second set, getting himself on the board in game five and then stunning Murray by claiming a break of his own with a fierce forehand.
He held again — after six deuces and saving two more break points — to close to within a game of Murray, but that was as good as the mini resurgence got for Dolgopolov as the Scot moved up a gear to finish things off.