Second-round result:

A MURRAY (GB) v F VERDASCO (Spa)

6-3 3-6 6-6 (7-5 in deciding tie-break)

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By Phil Harlow

"Is Murray trying to take Henman's place in the British tennis fans' hearts by putting us through the ringer like this?"
RememberScarborough on 606

"Well done Andy, we will just have to accept that this is the way you play your game - a long hard graft!!"
grainne-whale on 606

"March on Murray..."
Mike, Edinburgh, via text

Third set:

Murray 6-3 3-6 6-6 (7-5) Verdasco
That's it - Murray's through. But talk about making hard work of it...

Murray has four match points after Verdasco's mistakes hand the initiative to the Scot.

The first three go begging with terrible forehands, but a 34-stroke final rally ends with Verdasco going long with an unforced error.

Murray's through but it was far from his most impressive display. He will need to improve against Nikolay Davydenko in the next round.

Murray 6-3 3-6 6-6 (4-2) Verdasco
At the change of ends, Murray is ahead in the tense tie-break. The Scot went 3-0 up after serving first, before a decent Verdasco volley got him off the mark.

A wild shot from Verdasco put Murray 4-1 up, before a misjudged lob shot allowed the Spaniard back to within two points.

Murray 6-3 3-6 6-6 Verdasco
Good stuff from Verdasco as he puts three chances away clinically to go 40-0 up.

Murray storms back to deuce with some of his best tennis of the match but a slip allows Verdasco to volley into an open court and set up a deciding tie-break. Hold onto your hats.

"This is killing me but it's miles more interesting than my Maths lecture."
ajlivesey on 606

Murray 6-3 3-6 6-5 Verdasco
Murray throws a double fault into the mixer just when it wasn't wanted. Verdasco sniffs the opportunity and goes on the attack to give himself a break point.

The Spaniard comes into the net but gets his volley wrong to give Murray another chance, and the Scot comes through it - just.

"Murray is the Colin Montgomerie of tennis - he will never win a major."
Ron, Manchester via text

Murray 6-3 3-6 5-5 Verdasco
Verdasco again goes 40-0 up before Murray gets back to 40-30.

But having done the hard work, he plays a poor forehand which sails over the baseline. The pressure switches to the Scot.

"Why's everyone getting this wrong? It's clearly 'daan saaf'."
Lewis, London, via text

Murray 6-3 3-6 5-4 Verdasco
Anything you can do... Murray comes right back at Verdasco with a hold to love of his own. The pressure's back on the world number 30 now.

Murray 6-3 3-6 4-4 Verdasco
Another hold to love from Verdasco, his fifth of the match. It's Verdasco who is looking more at ease out there at the moment.

"I think you'll find it's 'dahn sarf'."
Douglas, London, via text (in response to Rob from Glasgow - below)

Murray 6-3 3-6 4-3 Verdasco
Verdasco gets a code violation warning as he smashes a ball clean out of the stadium after a mistake. Pretty silly stuff from the world number 30 - both players are struggling to keep their emotions in check.

But Murray, inexplicably playing "Hollywood" drop-shots on crucial points, hands the break back to the Spaniard with a tame backhand into the net. We're back on serve.

Murray 6-3 3-6 4-2 Verdasco
A major turning point as Murray grabs the crucial break following some poor decisions from verdasco under pressure.

Verdasco looked to have got himself back into things when - at 30-15 down - he correctly queried a line call with Hawk Eye to get back to 30-30.

But the game spirals out of control for him and a fired-up Murray gets a break ahead.

Murray 6-3 3-6 3-2 Verdasco
That's a bit more like it for Murray as he holds to love for the first time in the match.

Murray 6-3 3-6 2-2 Verdasco
More rude words from Murray, who can be a very naughty boy when he wants to be. It doesn't do an awful lot of good though as Verdasco holds to love - the fourth time in the match he has done so.

"Get a grip Greg (comment below), the lad is only 20. You wouldn't be saying that if he was from 'dawn sarf'."
Rob, Glasgow via text
That's a cockney 'dawn sarf', I assume.

Murray 6-3 3-6 2-1 Verdasco
Murray's forehand is going to pot as he gifts two break points to Verdasco, but three aggressive serves in a row puts him within sight of a crucial hold.

Verdasco goes long, and Murray keeps ahead on the scoreboard. A real missed chance for Verdasco, but Murray is not giving his fans a huge amount of confidence that he can see this one out.

Murray 6-3 3-6 1-1 Verdasco
Verdasco is looking comfortable out on court now as he goes 40-0 up with relative ease. Murray wins one point, but a great forehand on the next point sees Verdasco take the game.

"Oh Murray, why do you torment us like this? I'm now sweating more than Murray would on a particularly sweaty yoga sauna session!"
Maudinio in Bath, via text
(that's a Bikram yoga reference, by the way)

"Re: Phil (below) Of course he can. Murray is just showing he lacks the consistency to ever be a great."
Greg, London, via text

Murray 6-3 3-6 1-0 Verdasco
Murray is still not firing on all cylinders as Verdasco takes him to deuce in the opening game of the set.

But a fine passing shot across the face of Verdasco seals the game, and the fist pump shows he knows how important that was.

"There is no way Murray can let Verdasco win after defeating Federer!"
Phil, London, via text

Second set:

Murray 6-3 3-6 Verdasco
Murray says a very rude word as the frustration clearly begins to get under his skin. He dollies a short mid-court ball into the net to give Verdasco three set points and the Spaniard holds to love.

We're in for a deciding set, and Murray will have to buck his ideas up - particularly on his first serve. His percentage has dipped down to 36% in this set which is not what the doctor ordered.

Murray 6-3 3-5 Verdasco
The umpire plays a let as a spare ball bounces out of Murray's pocket and the incident affects his rhythm as Verdasco goes 30-0 up.

A poor miss down the line from Murray gives two break points away and Verdasco takes the first to give himself the chance to serve for the set. Murray was all at sea in that game.

Murray 6-3 3-4 Verdasco
Murray goes 40-0 up on Verdasco's serve as the Spaniard's game begins to unravel under pressure. Double faults, unforced errors, all present and correct.

Verdasco saves the first as a fine serve allows him to put an easy chance away with his next shot. But a lengthy rally ends with Verdasco going long over the baseline and we're back on serve.

Murray 6-3 2-4 Verdasco
Murray regains some rhythm and breezes through the game with some fine attacking tennis. Pretty much the first time this set he has gone after Verdasco, but has he left it too late?

"Typical Murray in the second set - he'll cruise in the third anyway."
The Nameless One on 606

Murray 6-3 1-4 Verdasco
Verdasco holds again to consolidate his break of serve further. Murray needs something special now to get back into this set.

Murray 6-3 1-3 Verdasco
Murray does not look altogether comfortable out there at present - is there a slight injury playing on his mind?

Still, the Scot finally gets off the mark and Verdasco is showing every sign of getting a bit hot under the collar, shouting and muttering - not sure if it's at himself, the umpire or some higher force - after almost every point.

Murray 6-3 0-3 Verdasco
The game goes to deuce and Murray - who earlier in the game played a quite exquisite drop-shot - gets the chance to break back with a fine shot down the line. Amusingly, Verdasco lashes out at the line as if the white paint was somehow conspiring against him.

Verdasco saves three break points though, and ends up holding serve. A chance missed for Murray.

Murray 6-3 0-2 Verdasco
Verdasco is playing with real assurance at the net so far this set as he looks to fight back. A Henman-esque volley puts him 30-15 up, but another Murray ace levels the score.

Murray fires into the net to give Verdasco another break point and a feeble drop-shot allows the world number 30 to master the point and put an overhead away to break.

Murray 6-3 0-1 Verdasco
A third ace of the match from Verdasco puts him 30-0 up, and the Spaniard finishes it off to make a decent start to a second set that he must win.

First set:

Murray 6-3 Verdasco
A couple of shouts of "Come on Andy" are heard - pretty much the first time you'd have known there were any fans in attendance in Dubai.

Verdasco is off the boil at the moment though and Murray barely needs the encouragement. Two unforced errors give set points to Murray, and another ace sees the Scot seal the first set in 39 minutes.

Murray 5-3 Verdasco
Murray seems to be saving his energy for the next game as Verdasco races 40-0 up. Murray fights back to 40-30 and seems to be back at deuce before Verdasco correctly challenges a ball that was called long.

Murray believes Hawk Eye is wrong and tries to argue the toss, but the computer refuses to get riled. Verdasco wins the next point to keep the set alive.

Murray 5-2 Verdasco
Three poor errors in a row from Murray gives Verdasco two break-back points with the wind making life difficult for both players.

A fine ace saves the first and Verdasco smashes his racket into the ground in frustration after putting a straightforward shot into the net. And two more aces see Murray hold - a real turning point in the match.

Murray 4-2 Verdasco
The world number 30 hands his opponent no less than four break points with some sloppy play at the net.

Verdasco saves the first three as Murray's attempted winners hit the top of the net but a double fault hands the Scot the first break of the match. He didn't have to do all that much, if truth be told.

Murray 3-2 Verdasco
Murray saves the first break point of the match with a backhand that stays low on Verdasco. He quickly regains composure and takes the next two points to keep his nose in front.

Murray 2-2 Verdasco
Verdasco's serve is really kicking up off the surface and giving Murray plenty to think about as the Spaniard goes 40-0 up in next to no time. Murray puts one overhead chance away, but Verdasco seals the game on the next point.

"I hope Andy is awake. We know how he doesn't like these early starts!"
Donna via text

Murray 2-1 Verdasco
Murray gets a lucky break with a drop-shot that clips the top of the net before dribbling over the other side. He is still finding his way with his serve in these windy conditions, but does enough to keep Verdasco at arm's length.

Murray 1-1 Verdasco
Boom-or-bust start from Verdasco as he fires two aces and a double fault before Murray goes long to put the Spaniard 40-15 up. A backhand into the net from the Scot sees Verdasco hold his first service game.

Murray 1-0 Verdasco
A slightly low-key opening to the match but Murray holds serve fairly comfortably. Verdasco's forehand looks in good working order early on, but nothing more than that as yet.

1016: And we're just about ready to start, with Murray first to serve.

1014: "The result will depend on whether Andy keeps his head after the victory over Roger or lets it get to his head... it's all in the head!"
JakeThePeg on 606

1009: "Good luck to Murray, it should be fairly straightforward victory."
WillSTFC on 606

1005: The Dubai Tennis Stadium is not exactly packed to the rafters for this second-round clash, in stark contrast to his glamour clash with Roger Federer on Monday.

Will that be a factor for Murray? The players are out on court warming up now, but they almost outnumber the fans in the grandstand.

1000: It's a fairly windy day in Dubai but the temperatures are still around 22C with humidity at 50%. The heat shouldn't worry Murray too much though, given his new-found interest in Bikram yoga.

It basically involves yoga in 45C saunas, with the heat allowing muscles to stretch that much further.

"It has helped me a lot with my fitness and my mental strength because it's tough being in that kind of heat for that length of time," said Murray.

0956: Hello all, we're a few minutes away from Andy Murray's second-round clash with Spain's Fernando Verdasco in Dubai.

Two days ago, Murray showed that he is in tip-top form with a fantastic win over world number one Roger Federer. So can he capitalise on the victory against the world number 30?

History would suggest he can with Murray winning both of their previous meetings.