Andy Murray managed to avoid a first-round exit at the French Open by coming from two sets down to beat Radek Stepanek in a five-set match, which was suspended midway on Monday.
The Scotsman was tested heavily by the Czech, but he managed to find a way to claim a 3-6 3-6 6-0 6-3 7-5 win on the clay court in Paris on Tuesday.
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Murray faced an uphill struggle in the early stages of the clash as Stepanek came out firing by breaking his opponent to take a 2-1 lead.
Britain's number one failed to create a single break point in the opening set as Stepanek broke again to take a comfortable lead in just over 40 minutes.
Murray appeared to be leading a comeback when he broke serve at the first time of asking in the second set, but his Czech competitor responded immediately by converting a break point of his own.
The Scotsman was openly frustrated with his form on the court, and he could not find the answer as he went two sets down in just under an hour and a half.
Murray had a huge task on his hands, but he responded by taking the third set in 22 minutes after snatching all of Stepanek's service games.
The momentum was with the two-time Grand Slam champion, but organisers suspended the match due to bad light, and the pair resumed their contest today.
Murray took just one break of serve to win the fourth set on the clay court, but Stepanek was stubborn in the fifth and deciding set as he stopped his opponent from finding a way through.
The Czech managed to come from 30 love down to hold for a 2-1 lead, while Murray could only muster two break points in nine games, but failed to convert them.
The breakthrough eventually came for Murray as he broke to take a 6-5 lead before sealing the win on his second match point.
Wins from Kyle Edmund and Aljaz Bedene means that there are three British men in the second round of the French Open for the first time since 1975.
Danielle Joynson
