Marin Cilic began his title defence at the Chennai Open in a comprehensive manner with a 6-2, 6-4 demolition of Igor Kunitysn.

The Croat took a little over an hour to tame the out of form Russian.

After the duo held their opening service games, Cilic broke Kunitsyn's serve in the third game and held his own to open a 3-1 lead.

He broke the Russian again in the fifth game to seal the set in his favour. A break of Kunitsyn's serve in the first game of the second set was enough to ensure the eventual result.