Murray’s enforced absence at least gave him the added bonus of spending more time with his wife and young daughter.

“Sometimes it’s tricky for the tennis players because of how much we travel and the schedule can be difficult,” he said. “I’ve spent a lot of time with my family, which I‘ve enjoyed ... and which hopefully they have as well.”

The upbeat Murray continued his subtle humor when jokingly comparing the picturesque views at the Monte Carlo country club, where the center court is perched over the glittering Mediterranean sea, with his native Scotland.

“In Scotland you’d have great views but the weather‘s so bad, so it’s not as enjoyable,” he said.

Murray took the first set on Muller’s serve when, having done well to retrieve two drop shots from his opponent, Muller missed an easy smash at the net. He whacked his racket against his shoe in frustration and then smashed it on the ground, buckling it in half.

Murray dropped serve again in the opening game of the second set but broke straight back. He set up a match point with an excellent backhand cross-court winner as he retrieved a shot deep into the court, and clinched victory on his first opportunity when Muller hit a forehand wide.

Former champion Stan Wawrinka, who won here in 2014, hit 32 winners and broke Czech player Jiri Vesely’s serve five times in a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 win.

Ninth-seeded Tomas Berdych, the runner-up here in 2015, rallied to beat 39-year-old German Tommy Haas 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

“It just shows what a great player he was and still is,” Berdych said. “Even at this late stage in his career he‘s still able to play like that.”

Fifth-seeded Marin Cilic of Croatia won 6-3, 6-0 against Jeremy Chardy; sixth-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria downed Dutchman Robin Haase 6-3, 6-2; No. 13 Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain won 6-4, 6-4 against Karen Khachanov; No. 14 Alexander Zverev of Germany broke Spanish veteran Feliciano Lopez’s serve five times in a 6-0, 6-4 win, and No. 15 Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain won 6-2-6-2 against Argentine Carlos Berlocq.

Later, defending champion Rafael Nadal was facing Britain‘s Kyle Edmund. This is one of Nadal’s favorite tournaments and he was won it nine times.

The Spaniard is looking for this first title of the year after losing in three finals -- to longtime rival Roger Federer at the Australian Open and the Miami Open, and a surprise defeat to big-serving American Sam Querrey in Acapulco, Mexcio.

Nadal will not be able to get his revenge on Federer here, since the 18-time Grand Slam champion is skipping the tournament. Federer is playing very little -- if at all -- on clay before he begins his bid for another Wimbledon title on his favored grass surface this summer. (AP)