Andy Murray has avoided a stunning upset in the first round of the French Open — for now.
Radek Stepanek, the oldest player in the men’s singles draw at 37 years old, opened up a two-set lead over Murray at Roland Garros, putting the world No. 2 on the verge of elimination. Murray then roared back to win nine straight games before the match was halted for the night midway through the fourth set with the Scotsman leading 4-2.
Stepanek, currently ranked No. 129, took it to Murray from the get-go, winning the first set 6-3. Murray looked sloppy at times, giving up 12 unforced errors.
 | @Mikno78 | |
(Q) Stepanek vs (2) Murray 6:3 #RG16 pic.twitter.com/qqDNV0ffoL
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The two traded breaks in the second set and battled back and forth until Stepanek won two straight games to send Murray to the brink of a first-round exit.
 | @rolandgarros | |
Radek Stephanek omniprésent sur le court... 2 sets à 0 contre le N°2 mondial Andy Murray. Surprise en vue ? snpy.tv/1s5iyRZ
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Stepanek began to wear down, and Murray turned up the heat. Murray won the third set in under 20 minutes and kept the pressure going in the fourth as daylight began to wind down. He built up a 3-0 lead in in the fourth before Stepanek finally won a game. The match was halted shortly before 9:30 p.m. local time in Paris.
Murray and Stepanek faced off earlier this month at the Madrid Open, with Murray winning in three sets. Stepanek’s previous best Grand Slam performance came in 2006, when he reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Murray will attempt to avoid his worst loss at a Grand Slam event tomorrow when play resumes at Roland Garros.
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