2120: So, in the end, a routine win for Andy Murray and no small hint in his post-match interview that he thought his critics were getting all worried for no reason on the back of his recent early exits in Miami and Monte Carlo. Let's hope so huh? If things pan out as expected Andy Murray will face the dangerous David Ferrer in the next round and that will be another test of the Scot's form. Be here for that, I'll see you all later, and in the mean time why not check out the final stages of the Lyon v Bayern Champions League semi-final? Quality.

heart_murray on 606: "Let's hope this will see Murray back on the right track."

Andy Murray on his win over Seppi: "There were a few things I could have done better but I was pleased with my mentality tonight. Everyone was panicking, asking me what my problem was on the back of a couple of defeats - but I didn't panic and you can see from Roger (Federer)'s result today that bad performances can happen. I went away and worked on things in Barcelona, particularly on my rhythm, and that went well. I mixed things up well today, especially on my slice, and I'm pleased to get into the next round."

tarantoes on 606: "Excellent match!! Murray won it - Seppi didn't 'lose it'."

MURRAY BEATS SEPPI 6-2 6-4
That's yer lot, folks. Murray gets things going with a net volley to see out a fine rally, and follows up with a trio of aces. There's a big cheer for Seppi, too, as he gets his only point of the game on the board with a running pass between his legs - but the Italian can do nothing to halt the Muzza juggernaught and plenty of encouragement there as the Scot returns to winning ways in good style.
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Murray * 6-2 5-4 Seppi
Admirable resolve from the home favourite as Andreas Seppi forces Murray to serve out with a hold to 15 thanks in the main to a couple of brutal aces.
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Murray 6-2 5-3 Seppi *
Andreas Seppi affords himself an optimistic smile as thrice a Murray forehand hits the net and falls the wrong side - but Muzza shrugs all three off, pings down an ace - his eighth of the match - and another unreturnable serve to take himself to within one game of the Rome Masters third round.
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Murray * 6-2 4-3 Seppi
The God of the net cord is smiling on Andreas Seppi as one of the Italian's forehands creeps onto Murray's side to hand the Italian two hold points - and the home favourite punches a fine approach onto the line next point to force the Muzza error and keep his head just above water in this match.
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Murray 6-2 4-2 Seppi *
A blink-and-you-miss-it hold from Andy Murray, the Scot finally getting a series of first serves in on his way to a hold to 15.
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Cogen on 606: "Murray's serve is still far from its best. Bad first serve percentage, and too many double faults... But his ground strokes have been firing nicely tonight, and he's putting some aggression and variety in there!"

Murray * 6-2 3-2 Seppi
This is an encouraging display for a number of reasons for Murray fans - and when the Scot brings out delightful backhand touch volleys low at the net like the one that takes him 15-0 up we are all reminded of the brilliance he possesses in or out of form. Credit to Seppi, though, the Italian puts a couple of serves out wide to Muzza's forehand side on his way back from 0-30 down and he just about holds.
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Murray 6-2 3-1 Seppi *
Andreas Seppi looks a man resigned to a satsuma and bag of nuts for Christmas. Andy Murray can even afford a double fault and forced error on the forehand side on his way to a simple hold that re-establishes his two-game lead.
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Murray * 6-2 2-1 Seppi
Murray starting to step in on Seppi's second serve, now - almost as far as the service box itself in fact - a sign of the Scot's growing confidence and dominance in this match. Seppi digs deep, though, to hold to 30, sealed on the back of a neat overhead volley.
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Murray 6-2 2-0 Seppi *
Murray starting to bring out the party tricks now, spanking a winning backhand down the line on the turn after chasing down Seppi's lob - and the Italian can only look to the sky when Muzza defends a couple of punched shots from behind the baseline before walloping a winning backhand winner across court to seal the hold.
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Murray * 6-2 1-0 Seppi
By golly, that's a couple of crunching backhand crosscourt winners from Andy Murray - a few more of those and we won't be here very long at all people. It takes the Scot to deuce despite some improved serving from Seppi, and the Italian undoes all his good work in this game when he sends a forehand wide to hand Muzza break point - a break he gifts to the Scot with a netted approach.
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The Man From Viltheed on 606: "Welcome back, Andy Murray. It's been a while."

Murray 6-2 Seppi *
A first double fault of the match cannot stop Murray easing to the hold and the first set, sealed courtesy of an ace and brutal backhand.
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Murray * 5-2 Seppi
A lot more comfortable, that, for Seppi - a thrashing backhand winner down the line from Murray aside - as the Italian brings a couple of big serves out of the bag on his way to a hold to 15.
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_arien on Twitter: "It's nice to see Murray moving better and with more positive body language. Here's hoping!"

Murray 5-1 Seppi *
A mixed bag from Andreas Seppi so far in this match - some fine touches in and around the net sitting uncomfortable alongside a host of errors - but Murray steps up a gear in this game, tearing a forehand down the line before serve-volleying the next point on his way to a hold to 30.
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Murray * 4-1 Seppi
Murray showing his traditional good movement out there, but he is already over-doing the drop shot and Seppi is all over it. A terrific reach volley at the net helps the Italian to 30-15 but a double fault lets Murray back in and only a superb overhead saves a break point. Muzza secures the double break after a three-deuce game, though, with a lovely backhand down the line and Seppi's frustration is clear.
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Murray 3-1 Seppi *
I think I described the crowd as "decent enough" earlier - and so it is, even if it is only half full. Not making much noise, though, the Rome faithful. They liven up a bit when Seppi powers a forehand down the line to go 30-0 up against serve, and then again when a wayward Murray passing shot goes wide to hand Seppi two break-back points. Muzza digs deep, though, and seals the hold when a Seppi backhand finds the net.
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online_genius_11 on 606: "Perfect start for Murray! Couldn't have asked for anything more. Hope he is back."

Murray * 2-1 Seppi
Better from Seppi, the Italian sending down a couple of fierce forehands to keep Murray on the back foot on his way to 40-0 up. Murray responds with a dreamy drop shot, but gets his first game on the board behind another firm forehand.
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Murray 2-0 Seppi *
Andreas Seppi, who has yet to get past the second round in any event this season, gets his first point on the board when he pushes Murray long before dropping one over the net - but the Scot is mixing his spins, slices and power shots well already and he earns the hold.
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Murray * 1-0 Seppi
Andreas Seppi sends a couple of Andy Murray returns into the net before sending a backhand volley wide on the back of a lengthy rally. Another netted forehand gifts Murray a break to love - perfect start.
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1940: The warm-up is done and we'll be under way in less than a jiffy, people. Andy Murray, by the way, has never lost four ATP matches in a row. He'll be vying for form resplendent in white and blue, with Andreas Seppi bossing the black and green trim look, with customary baseball-cap-turned-backwards-cos-he's-'well'-cool.

Bryan in Linlithgow via text: "Murray to cruise it 6-3 6-2 and suddenly go from being Scottish to being British again."

tarantoes on 606: "I don't think so Pickles91 (see below). As well as being an important tournament in its own right - it is also part of the clay season preparation that leads to Roland Garros."

1935: Now then, the players out on court in front of a decent enough crowd... it's almost time to get this party started.

Andy Murray speaking last week: "You gear yourself towards each Grand Slam, to peak for each of the four, where you want to be playing your best tennis. I achieved that in Australia this year. Since then it's not been particularly good but sport, especially tennis, can change from week to week. I went from playing some of the best tennis of my life in Australia to playing some really bad tennis in the space of a few weeks. That could change."

ASportingView on Twitter: "Time for Murray to snap out of this mini-slump he's been in since the Aussie Open and get the show back on the road."

Pickles91: "Nobody cares... this is a Mickey Mouse tournament. Federer has struggled for a long time in them, but still eases into Slam semis - these tournaments matter to people who care about their rankings."

1932: As for Murray, and given the form he is in, he might consider himself fortunate that he is only defending a second-round exit here after losing to Juan Monaco last year. However, with less than a month to go until the French Open and only Madrid set in stone in the Murray calendar as it stands, the 22-year-old will be desperate to get his game in gear ASAP.

Angus via text: "Murray to come back with a bang. 6-0 6-0...that will keep the critics' mouths zipped for at least a day!"

1928: 'Who is Andreas Seppi?' I hear some of you cry. Well the world number 47 will certainly enjoy partisan home support this evening, given that he is Italy's number one, but with a losing 3-1 record against Murray, including in the Indian Wells quarter-finals last month, he has his work cut out to overcome the Scot tonight. The 26-year-old has never won an ATP tour event and has never progressed past round two in Rome, but clay is his favourite surface and with a baseline game that makes up for his weak serve on the slower surface, underlined in his first-round win over compatriot Fabio Fognini, he might just provide a stern test of Murray yet.

1925: That, in case you didn't realise, was an invitation to hit me with your thoughts. The avenues open to you are 606,Twitter or via text on 81111 (UK) or +44 7786200666 (worldwide). Jubbly.

1922: So, Andy Murray, on a run of three straight defeats and having seen his world ranking slip from two to five, kicks off his Rome Masters with a second-round tie against home favourite Andreas Seppi in a bit. The Scot reckons his recent early exits in Miami and Monte Carlo were "blips" - well after a week's practice in Barcelona, we could be about to see whether the 22-year-old is back to his old self or is genuinely suffering a crisis of form. What do we reckon?

1920: Roger Federer's exit earlier today at the hands of Ernests Gulbis showed even the best can suffer an unexpected defeat or dip in form. For Andy Murray, his return to form starts here. He hopes.