Top seed Kei Nishikori dispatched "tricky" Benoit Paire 6-4, 6-3 on his debut at the Dubai Championships on Tuesday.
Asia's top player and the world number six will meet Huburt Hurkacz in the second round at the Aviation Club after the Pole beat French qualifier Corentin Moutet 6-3, 7-5.
Nishikori has shaken up his longtime schedule this season and is playing Dubai for the first time for a welcome change of ATP scenery after limiting himself in the past to