Andy Murray won a deciding set for the seventh time this season to reach the second round at Indian Wells.
Murray had no fewer than 20 break points, 16 of which were saved by the 23-year-old Argentine.
“I really felt like I was in the driving seat for much of the match,” Murray told BBC Sport.
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Etcheverry was the sharper man in a first set tie-break, which he won 7-5, and had a break point for a 2-1 lead in the second.
But Murray saved that break point before running away with the second set.
Etcheverry had two break points at 4-3 but Murray saved them with some fine serving, then secured the decisive break in the next game as the Argentine double faulted.
“I’m not going to keep winning every three-set match that I play, but it’s been an amazing start to the year,” Murray continued.
Murray will play Spain’s world number 17 Pablo Carreno Busta in the second round on Saturday.
Murray’s victory came after 21-year-old compatriot Jack Draper thrashed Switzerland’s Leandro Riedi 6-1 6-1, to set up a second-round meeting with fellow Briton Dan Evans.
Showing no signs of the leg injury he had been dealing with, Draper looked sharp as he dismantled 135th-ranked Riedi’s serve.
The rapid win sets up an intriguing match against 24th seed Evans, who will surely provide a sterner test than Riedi did on his debut in an ATP Masters event.
Evans, 32, received a first-round bye in the Californian desert and the Davis Cup team-mates will play each other competitively for the first time later this week.
Speaking about Evans, Draper told BBC Sport: “He’s a really nice human being and whenever I’ve had moments where I’ve not felt great he’s always sent me a message, and I appreciate that from an older player.
