Wednesday 4 May 2016 09:17, UK
Andy Murray began the defence of his Madrid Open title with a hard-fought three-set victory over Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.
Murray, who won at this venue last year, was given a stern workout by 37-year-old Stepanek before eventually coming through 7-6 3-6 6-1 in two hours and 14 minutes.
The Scot said: "Not a lot of the match was played on my terms. It was very tough."
Next up for Murray will be Frenchman Gilles Simon or Pablo Carreno Busta who meet on Wednesday in the Spanish capital.
Stepanek, who had won the most recent meeting between the men with a straight sets success at Queen's in 2014, was to prove equally as awkward under the Madrid lights, starting strongly by breaking Murray in the opening game of the match before comfortably holding his serve to open up a two-game lead.
Murray had won the two previous clay-court meetings between the men and he began to find his range, taking the chance to break back in the sixth game to put himself back in control.
With Stepanek still going for his shots, Murray was happy to play from the back of the court in hope of forcing an error and despite a hint of an opening in game ten for the man from Dunblane, Stepanek found the answers to hold on and level the match at 5-5.
The Czech soon found himself 0-30 in front on the Murray serve, but the world No 2 battled back to hold before the first set headed into a tie-break, which Murray took 7-3 - although it was far from straightforward.
A dominant hold of serve followed for the Czech to start the second set before Murray cruised into 40-0 on his own serve. However, a blistering barrage from Stepanek saw him break Murray's first service game of the set for the second time in the match before consolidating for a 3-0 lead.
A barrage of Stepanek winners had Murray on the back foot throughout and while Murray forced break points at 2-4 down, he could not convert and after exchanging a couple of holds, Stepanek stood firm on his own serve to take the second set 6-3 in 44 minutes.
Murray broke in the second game of the decider to take the initiative in a set for the first time in the match and with a flagging Stepanek feeling the pace, Murray broke again for a 4-0 lead.
Despite a flurry from the Czech, who forced break points at 5-1 down, Murray's performance in the third set saw him through in comfortable style eventually and will be what is required as he moves through the draw in pursuit of a first title of the year.
You can follow the Madrid Open on Sky Sports 1 on Wednesday from 11am.
