Andy Murray and Roger Federer, remain on course for a semi-final showdown at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells after they continued their respective comebacks from illness and injury with routine victories.
Federer, the world No 2, was in action for the first time since his tearful Australian Open final defeat and he showed few signs of rustiness with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 win over Frenchman Marc Gicquel in the second round.
Federer has been out of action with back problems, but the three-time Indian Wells champion needed only 84 minutes to beat world No 52 Gicquel.
Federer, 27, served 12 aces and won 92 per cent of first-serve points as Gicquel failed to even push the Swiss to a break point.
Federer will now face big-hitting Ivo Karlovic in the third round after the Croat beat Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4, 6-2.
Murray, meanwhile, also advanced to the third round with a more hard-fought victory over Albert Montanes.
The Scot, 21, battled through 7-5, 6-3 in 1hr 36min in his first singles match since being forced to withdraw before his quarter-final with Richard Gasquet in Dubai last month due to a virus.
Murray was broken in the third game of the match but levelled at 4-4 with one of his own before winning the opener after the Spaniard double faulted on set point in the 12th game.
In the second set, 2007 Indian Wells semi-finalist Murray saved both break points he faced and broke the Spaniard in the eighth game before serving out to wrap up the win.
"I thought I moved great, best I had moved in quite a while," said Murray. "I feel fine. I didn't feel like I was too out of breath after long rallies. I felt like I could have gone for at least another 45 minutes or so."
He will next face Paul Henri-Mathieu, who defeated the Italian Potito Starace 6-4, 6-7 (13-11), 6-4 in two and a half hours.
Tommy Robredo, the 15th seed from Spain, also made serene progress to the thrid round with a routine 6-1, 6-4 win over the Russian player Igor Kunitsyn which took just 57 minutes.
* With agencies
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School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm
Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km
On sale: now
Price: Dh149,000
Company profile
Date started: 2015
Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki
Based: Dubai
Sector: Online grocery delivery
Staff: 200
Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends
