Kyle Edmund has started 2016 with a straight-sets win over Andrea Arnaboldi in the first qualifying round ahead of the Qatar Open.
The British number three, who gained entry into the Australian Open earlier this week, required just one break of serve to take the opener against the world number 158.
The 20-year-old continued to control the match in the second, earning two more breaks to move one victory away from the main draw.
Edmund is likely to face Romanian Radu Albot, who faces a local wildcard entry in his opening match, on Sunday.
