A MURRAY (GB) v R STEPANEK (Cze)

6-4 6-1

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By Saj Chowdhury

SECOND SET

Murray 6-4 6-1 Stepanek
Murray has two match points. He double faults leaving him with just one to play with. In keeping with the theme of his play, Stepanek overhits a return to give Murray the point and the match.

Murray 6-4 5-1 Stepanek
Big whip on the forehand gives Murray match point. Stepanek hits back with a low backhand cross-court. Then he produces the shot of the match with a sliced drop-shot that ends up back on his side of the court. He smiled after that. That was a touch. Stepanek goes on to win the game.

"Is it just me that is disturbed that somebody as oafish as Radek can still get with that little Swiss beauty Hingis?"
skegness_dave on 606

Harsh, but some would say fair.

Murray 6-4 5-0 Stepanek
The Madrid Masters began employing models as ball girls in 2004 - it caused a bit of a stir (again, according to our own tennis ace Caroline Cheese). Back to today's contest, Murray breeezes through his service game to leave him on the brink of a meeting with Chela.

Murray 6-4 4-0 Stepanek
What's happening to "Steps" (his official nickname according to my colleague Caroline Cheese)? He's got a free pass to the Unforced Errors Theme Park and making full use of it. Murray, to his credit, is having a blinder. Reminiscent of Andre Agassi at his imperious best. Lovely. Murray has two break points but Stepanek pulls it back for a deuce duel - that lasts for ages. Finally it ends with Murray passing Stepanek cross-court.

Murray 6-4 3-0 Stepanek
Murray serves another ace to win the game. The Scot will play Juan Ignacio Chela in the next round if he wins.

Murray 6-4 2-0 Stepanek
Stepanek is finding Murray powerful returns tough to deal with. Maybe he need to work on strengthening his wrist - although it's unlikely he'll listen to me. Murray breaks the Czech.

"If Andy wins this match, who is his likely opponent in the second round?"
MikeSiva on 606I'll try to find out.

Murray 6-4 1-0 Stepanek
Murray stretches to hit an uber-point down the line to go 40-0 up. Stepanek finds the net to give his opponent the game.

FIRST SET

Murray 6-4 Stepanek
The ball girls are models apparently - it's not all catwalks and fashion shoots, you know. Stepanek submits his first challenge - the computer says "no". Murray goes 30-15 up. Murray then finds himself with two set points. He takes the first after his Czech opponent returns Murray's baseline shot into the net.

Murray 5-4 Stepanek
An unforced error brings the scores to 30-30. But Stepanek fails to seize the mini-opportunity. Murray powers up, computer-game style, to unleash a great forehand to win the game.

Murray 4-4 Stepanek
Another easy service game for Stepanek. Seems like this will be heading for a tie-break.

Meanwhile, a delve into our 2005 Wimbledon archives finds this little gem:
"I was a bit annoyed at him at the end," said Murray after his match against Stepanek.

"He was trying to put me off and make me nervous but it didn't work and he ended up looking a bit stupid."

Best of mates then?

Murray 4-3 Stepanek
Murray's serves are quality. Love game. Wins with an ace.

Murray 3-3 Stepanek
I wonder if Stepanek's mates call him "Rad" or "Step" for short? One thing is for certain is that his serve and volley game is working a treat and making Murray work hard. The Scot will need to be pretty surgical with his returns.

Murray 3-2 Stepanek
It is all a bit dull so far. But young Andy provides a little moment of excitement with a great recovery to scoop a winner down the line to win the point and game.

Murray 2-2 Stepanek
I'm no Jeff Banks, but Stepanek is wearing a very mid-1980s Ivan Lendl outfit. It looks good on him, I guess. Murray is making Stepanek work hard and the Czech is needing to be super-precise with his winners. But he wins the game to love.

Murray 2-1 Stepanek
I'm not sure how popular tennis is in Madrid, but there are only a handful of people at the match. Is it siesta time? Murray fires in an ace to win the game - the 20-year-old looks pretty comfortable.

Murray 1-1 Stepanek
The ball girls are wearing luminous pink dresses. Stepanek has a 'mare and faces three break points. The 28-year-old Czech pulls it back to deuce. Murray challenges a Stepanek point and wins - well done, Andy. But then messes up. Stepanek serves and volleys to win level the match.

Murray 1-0 Stepanek
Murray plays a fantastic drop shot to go 30-15 up after losing the first point on his serve. Stepanek smacks a forehand down the line to level. A Stepanek error and a pass cross-court gives the Scot the first game.

1428: The players have only played once before - at Wimbledon 2005. On that occasion Murray swept aside the Czech 6-4 6-4 6-4.