It's baking in West London with those in the crowd turning a deeper shade of red this afternoon. Murray limits his time in the sun in this game, racing through to hold before turning his attention to the Stepanek serve.

A bit of hope for Murray as he forces Stepanek to deuce, but the Czech's serve is really motoring and gets him out of trouble on this occasion. Stepanek holds amid a very flat atmosphere at Queen's.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech, who is courtside watching his Czech compatriot, on BBC Two: "The tempo of the game is amazing and sat here you just have to appreciate how much running they do. I am drained just watching but delighted with the result of the first set. The standard is brilliant. Some of Andy's shots are mind-blowing but Radek is playing so well."

And on the breaking news that Cesc Fabregas has signed for Chelsea: "I didn't know but it's great news because he's a great player with a lot of experience playing in England. It's great addition to the team."

Murray bounces the ball against the advertising hoarding while he waits for fans to take their seat. They're in no rush, though, and neither is Stepanek, who refuses to get down to signal he's ready to receive the serve until every single spectator has sat down.

At last, we're under way with Stepanek feeding off the energy from winning that first set to rustle up not one, not two but three break points on the Murray serve. The Scot saves the first - and the second - but he looks on in utter disgust as he sends a forehand long to surrender the game. Murray is stunned. The crowd is stunned.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Queen's Club

"There was a lot of sighing, shaking of heads and wiping sweat from brows in that set - both on and off court. It was scrappy throughout from Murray but from 6-2 in the tie-break, and with eight set points, no excuses. A mass exodus follows from the stands in search of rehydration - vital in these conditions."

Image source, British Tennis

World Cup fever is thriving among the tennis players at Queen's, as this picture from British Tennis, external shows. Croatia's Marin Cilic and Brazil's Andre Sa take to the tables during a quiet moment, but which one of them will be smiling after tonight's opening match of the 2014 World Cup?

If you missed the opener to today's tennis coverage, our video team have clipped it up and slotted in at the top of this live text commentary. The special effects wizards replaced the lush grass surface and West London surroundings of the Queen's Club with the golden sands and pulsing Samba rhythms of Copacabana beach in Brazil ahead of the football World Cup opener tonight at 21:00 BST.

Murray goes big on yet another set point, but it's too big and we're at 10-10. Stepanek manages to win two points in a row to bring up his first set point, but it's on the Murray serve. No matter, the Czech blasts the return back and then latches onto a short ball, whipping it cross-court to take the set - on his first set point. "Come on!" bellows Stepanek.

Steve Roff:, external Murray doesn't look on his game so far for me. Yesterday, today too he looks sluggish. Needs to step it up!

Image source, Getty Images

Having worked so hard, Stepanek throws in another double fault and Murray gets his fifth set point. But still, it's not to be as Stepanek grinds out the next point. On we go...

Another moment of brilliance from Murray, in between a flurry of mistakes, sees the Scot bring up another set point with a brilliant cross-court backhand.

What. A. Rally. The pair trading groundstrokes and surprisingly it's Murray who breaks down first. Time to change again with the score locked at 9-9.

Murray anticipates a Stepanek serve out wide and whips a return down the line to get the breakthrough with a mini-break. He consolidates it to go 4-2 ahead at the changeover.

The wheels are coming off at the Stepanek bandwagon at just the wrong time, with Murray getting another mini-break to go 6-2 clear and just one point away from clinching the set.

But the Czech digs himself out of the deepest of holes, helped with a double fault and two unforced errors from Murray, to level at 6-6.

You could hear a pin drop out on Centre Court as Stepanek brings up set point after a Murray forehand goes wide by a few centimetres. But Murray goes aggressive on the next point and it pays off to bring up deuce. The Scot then rattles through the next two points to set up a tie-break.

Ru:, external I don't think Radek Stepanek has read the script. He was supposed to roll over more than this.

Image source, Getty Images

We're racing towards a tie-break here, folks, as Stepanek holds serve with ease. There's not a spare seat in the house, with most not willing to head out for a drinks' top up for fear of missing something.

For the first time in the match, Murray is able to cruise through his service game without much fuss.

Peter Fleming
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion on BBC TV

"Murray looked very sharp yesterday against primarily a baseliner and because he defends so well against attackers you assume that this would have been a walk in the park, but it hasn't been. Stepanek has been more consistent than we might have expected but Murray hasn't taken advantage of a few opportunities and that will need to improve in the coming weeks."

Murray is clocking up the miles today, Stepanek dragging his opponent left and right, up and down. But Murray is up to the challenge, chasing down a ball and then whipping it cross-court for a winner while on the run. That opens up 15-30. That's as good as it gets, though, Stepanek rattling through the next three points to seal the game. It's anyone's match at the moment.

Peter Fleming
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion on BBC TV

Image source, Getty Images

"We've talked about Murray's second serve and why people don't attack it more often. Well, Stepanek was having great success with that tactic."

An element of frustration is creeping in for Murray, the Scot growling at himself when another first serve goes long. Stepanek leaps on a lame second serve, instantly putting Murray on the back foot before hitting a winner down the line for deuce.

Out comes the first Murray fist pump of the match, the Scot delighted with himself as he reaches a deep backhand from Stepanek and returns it with venom down the line for advantage. Murray is then on the receiving end of a super passing shot, laced with topspin, and suddenly he's facing another break point.

Murray saves it as Stepanek ends up on the floor again as he loses his footing in chase of the ball. Game point follows as Murray drags a forehand winner into court from a foot outside the tramline but gives himself grief with a double fault. Deuce. And deuce again.

Stepanek's tactic of coming to the net early in the point and shortening the points is proving very effective at the moment. But at last, Murray closes out a 10-minute game as his first serve returns to help him out.

Stepanek recovers from the missed opportunities in the previous game to comfortably win his service game.