John Lloyd
1977 Australian Open runner-up on BBC Two

"There were a number of times in that last rally, where Murray was out wide and pushed back deep, that he put extra spin on his forehand returns and pushed Berdych back. He didn't let him take charge. In the other service games Berdych had dominated."

Matt McGladrigan:, external Murray has got to mix that serve up. Can't keep going wide on the deuce and T on the ad side. Contrasting holds of serve so far.

James Billington:, external Looks like Murray might have overindulged on haggis on Burns night. Come on Andy!

Image source, Getty Images

Has Murray been below par or is Berdych playing super tennis? It's probably a combination of both. Murray with a sniff at 15-30, though, and Berdych, under pressure for the first time in this match, crumbles like a chocolate flake - netting to gift Murray two break back points. Tut-tut-tut. Murray screws a backhand long. One break point remaining. The Scot lunging from tramline to tramline, fetching and retrieving... but will his opponent falter? Yes! Yes! Yes! A frustrated Berdych fails to negotiate the barrier and Murray is back in business.

John Lloyd
1977 Australian Open runner-up on BBC Two

"That's as good as it gets from Berdych. That's where he wants to be, inside that baseline taking charge of these rallies. Perfect start for him."

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Melbourne Park

"It is kicking off on Rod Laver Arena, and not because of the tennis. After half an hour of tense action, the changeover is party time as Kenny Rogers is introduced to the crowd and 'The Gambler' blast out around the stadium. Hoping for a Danni Minogue Classic next."

Image source, Getty Images

Much has been made of Murray's former coach Dani Vellverdu being now on Berdych's coaching team. Vellverdu and Berdych's game plan working so far, with the Czech mixing up play and upping the aggression on Murray's second serve.

Speaking of which, a stonking backhand winner down the line from Berdych on Murray's second serve earns Nadal's conqueror two break points. On the next point, the pair go blow-for-blow on the baseline before Berdych ups the ante and seals the deal with a stunning backhand winner.

At 30-15, a confident Berdych gets the better of Murray by prowling at the net, seeing his opponent off with a cool volley. The British number one not returning at his best, flapping at a forehand and Berdych is ahead once more. Kenny Rogers is now leaving his seat while the crowd clap along to The Gambler. He's not going to do a Cliff Richard and start singing, is he?

John Lloyd
1977 Australian Open runner-up on BBC Two

"Murray needed that cross-court winner for 15-30 because it would have given Berdych three break points. Well rescued from Murray."

Image source, Reuters

A delay in play as Kenny Rogers makes his way to his seat. He's a gambler is old Kenny, and this time his risky strategy didn't pay off because he's missed the opening five games. Murray, on the other hand, knows when to hold them and when to fold them, and knows when to run, because the Scot sprints towards the net like a greyhound being released from the traps and clips the line with an exquisite crosscourt backhand volley. The crowd roar in approval. He follows with an ace to wipe out Berdych's advantage, levelling at 30-30.

Murray has not been at ease on his own serve, though, and Berdych once again forces the Scot to deuce.

Advantage. Deuce. Advantage. Uncharacteristic errors from Murray as the pair scrapping on the baseline, but he pulls through with Berdych's backhand drifting wide. "Come on" screams Murray once more.

Andrew Neill:, external With Berdych keen to get to the net Murray needs to wheel out the excellent lobs that worked so well against Kyrgios.

Dallas Campbell:, external Ouch! Berdych on fire early in the first.

Fergal Fitzmaurice:, external Good luck Andy Murray. I am not mystic meg but I predict a straight set win.

Image source, Getty Images

Heavy-duty hitting from Berdych and the 6ft 5in 29-year-old also has a twinkle in his toes, volleying with aplomb when he scoots towards the tape. The Czech winning over 90% of points on his first serve, which would probably get him into Oxford if there was such a thing as a degree in the art of serving. But there isn't. I'm pretty sure there isn't. Berdych has started the better, Murray yet to find his form.

Groans from the spectators, thousands of surprised voices that the Briton netted a sliced backhand from the middle of the court. At 15-15, Berdych is the aggressor, coming out on top of a baseline tussle as Murray biffs a backhand well wide. From 15-30 to 30-30 to deuce. Nervy stuff. Unpredictable stuff. Berdych oozing confidence as well as oodles of sweat. Murray makes a rare trip to the net and swipes a forehand volley beyond his opponent. Berdych then balloons a forehand during a short-ish rally and it's a stentorian "come on" from the Scot as he holds.

Grant: Pretending to work while watching Murray v Berdych on my mobile phone with the volume off. CMON MURRAY!

Image source, EPA

Berdych untroubled on his own serve so far, rattling off three points in succession to move 40-0 up. Murray nicks one point, but can he nick another? Well... the pair trade blows on the baseline... tramline to tramline... Berdych turns defence into attack, a super-duper forehand into the corner allows him to stride towards the net... the Czech an intimidating presence by the tape and he concludes a fine game with a deep volley towards Murray's backhand side. This could be a cracking contest.

John Lloyd
1977 Australian Open runner-up on BBC Two

"That was a 'good' loss in that game for Berdych - he attacked Murray's serve and there were some good signs for him."

Jono:, external This one is anything but a foregone conclusion. For me Murray has more variety and a better all round game so Murray in four.

Andrew Neill:, external Part of me wants a great match but the other part of me wants an easy match for Murray to conserve energy for Djokovic in the final.

Image source, Getty Images

Blimey. A double fault from Murray and he's probably not served as badly as that since he was a toddler. The Scot recovers, though - an ace to the wings, full of slice and dice, moves him to 30-15 and another unreturnable boomer takes the British number one to within a point of holding.

Cripes. Berdych pounces on a tame Murray second serve and all the Scot can do is watch a crisp forehand return fly by. 40-30. Trouble ahead? Possibly. Berdych threading a forehand down the line for deuce. Murray skips to advantage, stretches on the baseline to return what looks like an unreturnable but Berdych is at the net, his eyes widen, but his concentration dips and the Czech plonks a simple volley into the tape. Game over. Let's move on.

Image source, Heather Watson on Twitter

British number one Heather Watson:, external Breakfast with @andy_murray vs @tomasberdych on the tele!

The spectators are in boisterous mood. Spine-tingling roars as the players leave their seats to begin the match. Two easy points for Berdych as he eases to 30-0. Murray looks up towards the Melbourne sky as he slaps a forehand into the net, gifting Berdych a 40-0 lead. Sloppy. The Czech concludes the game with a thunderous ace. A confident start for the seventh seed.

Former England footballer Rio Ferdinand:, external Keeping an eye on the tennis this morning.. Good luck Andy Murray.