Andy Murray admits he is in a “much better place” as he continued his comeback from injury on Wednesday, pairing up with brother Jamie to progress to the second round at the Citi Open in Washington.

The brothers were playing together for the first time in almost three years and beat French pair Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the first round of the men’s doubles, clinching a 6-4, 7-6(7), 10-5 victory.

The Scots will face either Kevin Krawietz and Andreas Mies or Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus in the second round.

Murray’s fourth men’s doubles appearance of the 2019 season is the latest step in his recovery from hip surgery and he said: “I’m in a much better place, now than I was last year.

“Even though I was winning singles matches, physically I just feel so much better. I have no pain. It’s not restricting me in any of the shots that I’m hitting. I’m still maybe a little bit slower.

“I’m hoping that’s something that will come back with time, but… I didn’t know how much more I was going to be playing after here (at the Citi Open) last year. And yeah, to come back and be competing and be pain free is brilliant.”