Murray was made to work for a three-set win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert at Monte Carlo Masters

Andy Murray was made to work for a 6-2 4-6 6-3 win over French qualifier Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters.

The British No 1 dropped the second set in his first competitive singles match on clay this year, but quickly regained command to close out victory.

After easing through the opening set, Murray was broken three times in the second by Herbert, who had defeated clay specialist Guido Pella in the previous round.

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Herbert, ranked at 95 in the world, stubbornly held onto his own serve to level the match, but Murray produced a determined response in the decider. 

The Scot broke the Frenchman to forge a 4-1 lead and sent down an ace to save break point on his own serve before he secured his place in the third round.

Murray, who will face either Benoit Paire or Joao Sousa, said: "I expected it to be a tough match from the beginning. The first set he didn't serve well, I think he served 35 per cent first serve and that's a big part of his game.

"He likes to serve and volley behind the first serve, or big first serve and try to come in behind the second shot. He wasn't able to do that in the first set, because he didn't serve well. 

"Then in the second he did that a bit better, also I was making too many mistakes as well, got broken a few times in that set.

"I actually served well in the third set, that was important. Coming up with some big serves when I needed them and played some good tennis at times, but also was a bit and down. On this surface, you've got to be a bit more consistent."

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