Lopez is copying Murray now, having a rant after dumping another shot into the net. Murray holds easily and is exerting his class and stature on the Spaniard.

Lopez pumps down another ace but despite coming up with an array of impressive shots, Lopez also makes his share of mistakes. Still, he hangs on and holds.

Simone Jude: , externalStill get a kick every time they say Wimbledon Champion Andy Murray.

Image source, Getty Images

Lopez tries a squash shot style return but can't get enough elevation and Murray edges to 30-0. The Briton seems to have stopped the back/side touching and grimacing of early in the match and is moving well. Lopez makes another sloppy forehand error when he balloons one long and Murray marches to 3-1.

Stunning two-handed crosscourt backhand from Murray - he's still got it, you know - but then he loses it again and has another rant at himself as Lopez edges to 40-30. The 26th seed clinches the game and Murray can be heard having a mini meltdown at the other end.

Murray spanks one into the net and launches a private tirade against himself before inching back to 30-15. Lopez goes for the money shot with a big forehand but Murray digs out a brilliant return and Lopez nets to give the Briton 40-15, and soon after the game.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

After a scrappy start from both men, and a host of chances going begging for Murray, the Wimbledon champion really hit his straps in the tie-break. A couple of drop shots did for Lopez, who grinned ruefully on his way back to be baseline. The sizeable ranks of "Team Murray" down in front of us look as relieved as their man on court. And the weather? Blustery, cloudy, and stuck at 20C all afternoon.

Murray is gifted a couple of cheap points at the beginning of the second set before Lopez has him scampering wide into the backhand court in a vain attempt to rescue a return. Lopez strikes again but, as throughout the match, when it comes down to a game of patience it is Lopez who cracks first and fires wide to give Murray a break point. Lopez goes for a big second serve and hands Murray the game on a plate.

Murray grabs the first mini break when he pounces on a short Lopez groundstroke, but the Spaniard hits back with a barrage of smashes for 2-1. One of Murray's little drop shots followed by his first ace takes him to 4-1 and another drop shot in a duel at the net gives him daylight between them at 5-1. Murray edges to 6-2 and clinches the set when a scampering Lopez can only dump a tame forehand into the net.

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Murray changes his T-shirt at the sit down but it gets him off to bad start as he dumps a backhand into the net. Lopez edges clear with a delightful zinging backhand crosscourt winner but Murray produces two lush points of his own and then gets a break when Lopez inexplicably leaves a good one in mid court. Another Spanish ace rescues Lopez and he edges to advantage after the first challenge before an aberration offers Murray his second set point. Lopez appears cross with himself and follows up a big serve with a moody smash to make him feel better. He works the next point beautifully, moving Murray around like his pawn and clinches the game when Murray fires long.

Murray keeps his calm and moves Lopez around the court, eventually forcing the Spaniard to fire long with a forehand crosscourt shot to give the Briton 40-0. Lopez pounces on a Murray second serve to get back to 40-30 but the man dubbed "Deliciano" by Murray's mum floats a forehand wide and Murray edges closer to the opening set.

Lopez fires his fifth ace to kick off and follows it with a double fault. Typical. The Spaniard gets a lucky net cord to go to 30-15. Lopez puts the gloss on an exciting rally by mixing it up with a deft drop shot for 40-15 but wastes the advantage with a long forehand. But after a cat-and-mouse game - the squeak of their shoes on the blue surface adding to the effect - Lopez seals it for 5-5.

Murray's serve seems to be holding up ok, mind, and he holds to love to make Lopez serve to stay in the set. Murray effects an air of nonchalance, but he's not looked particularly comfortable up to now.

Lopez sniffing an opportunity here and commands the first two points before launching a missile out wide for 40-0. He comes into the net and dominates with the volley for an easy hold.

Some decent serving from Murray takes him swiftly from 30-30 to the game but he appears to be focusing on something else. Perhaps the back, perhaps not.

Murray finds himself 30-40 up for little effort on his part but Lopez pumps down a big serve to wriggle to deuce. A long and wide backhand from Lopez gives Murray a second break point but Lopez puts some welly on it and saves himself again. Murray's mojo appears to be creeping back in, though, as he conjures a cute backhand down-the-line passing shot for another break point,. Lopez serves and volleys well and drags it back to deuce but then gives Murray break point number four. A cracking point next up, ends with Lopez sending Murray scuttling wide right and then left and into the hordings. He reaches for his shirt tail on the left again, almost a reflex reaction. Lopez eventually rescues the game.

Murray finds himself 0-30 down and grits his teeth as the follow-through seems to cause discomfort. Lopez, his white and red shoes looking like a pair of spats, fires a backhand long to give Murray a foothold in the game. The Scot follows it up by reinforcing a big first serve with a thundering forehand winner and moves Lopez out wide with a tricky second serve to bring up 40-30. Murray finds the net after trading a handful of groundstrokes with Lopez and reaches advantage when the Spaniard chips a backhand long. Deuce again, and after another lengthy rally, Murray safely buries a volley at the net into the empty court. He then nets with an almost identical attempt, but Lopez gets impatient at the back and forth and has a lash with forehand, only for it to come off the frame fly high and long. Game Murray.

Lopez, with a smart new close-cropped action man haircut, produces a solid service game of his own and strolls back casually to towel his forehead. Murray still touching his hand on his left lower back.

Murray spanks down a commanding service game but sits down at the change of ends seemingly not happy with the world.

Lopez steers Murray out wide with that big lefty serve and puts away the smash for 30-30. Murray, though, fires a fizzing forehand back past the Spaniard for a break point of his own but he can't capitalise with a wayward two-handed backhand and he appears to emit a light grimace and feels his back. Another break point to Murray and makes amends but he appears in discomfort. Something, anyway, is niggling him.