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Tsitsipas backed up a blistering first set by upping his aggression when under pressure in the second to secure an 83-minute win.

“My mission was to play my best game and to deliver to the expectations I set before entering the court, and those were pretty high,” said Tsitsipas, who improved to 10-6 in Rotterdam. “I’m more than happy that I delivered on those promises. I think my game in the first set looked fantastic, I was immediately attacking whenever the short one was coming my way.

“Getting to play the same type of quality and level of game in the second set, I felt he had answers to those big shots that I was coming up with. I also felt like him trying to hit the ball more started building a new dynamic in the matchup. I felt like he upgraded his level in the second set, but I just had to wait and seize the opportunity.”

Tsitsipas appeared considerably transformed from the player who was defeated by Alex Michelsen in the first round of the Australian Open last month. The Greek star raced out of the blocks inside the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam — where he made his ATP Tour debut in 2017 — by striking 15 winners en route to clinching a 27-minute first set.

Tistsipas’s resolve was tested in the second set as Mayot grew into the occasion. In stark contrast to the first, the Frenchman was able to extend the rallies and force errors from his opponent. Yet despite squandering six consecutive break points, Tsitsipas's pressure finally told in the 11th game as he sealed the vital break before serving out the match with ease. Tsitsipas, the 2022 finalist, awaits either Matteo Berrettini or home favourite Tallon Griekspoor in the second round.

Earlier, Hubert Hurkacz produced a clinical display to oust Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 6-2 and advance to the second round in Rotterdam for the fifth consecutive year. The eighth seed won 85 per cent (23/27) of first-serve points, according to Infosys ATP Stats, and fired seven aces en route to a 77-minute victory.

Hurkacz, who is playing in his first even since dropping outside the Top 20 for the first time since April 2021, will face either Jiri Lehecka or Alexei Popyrin the second round.