This is almost Andy Murray's first set in microcosm. There have been times when he has hung with Djokovic, but come up short when it mattered. At 15-30, he's bossing the rally, only to send a forehand an inch or so wide. In the blink of an eye it's 40-30, and one set point is all Djokovic needs.

Djokovic has the balls on his strings. The world number one is serving for the set with a smile on his face...

Russell Fuller
BBC tennis correspondent on Radio 5 live sports extra

"That was a gift of a break to Djokovic who certainly earned his break in the third game but not quite there. Nine victories for Murray over Djokovic in his career but never when having lost the first set."

Oh, you are kidding. Djokovic only just gets his strings on to the return, Murray has all of Paris in which to place the ball. He can't get it over the net. The set is as good as done.

Murray is slipping into that mood. You know, the one where he looks angry with the world when things don't quite go his way. A dump into the net, a forehand too long. Yet another break point for Djokovic...

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There's what can only be described as a Mariachi band playing during the changeover, a huge section of the crowd dressed in green swaying along to the music. It's hot, so hot that Andy Murray has asked for an ice towel. Indoors. In Paris. In November. His black shirt is sticking to his chest, stuck by sweat. After he had to work so hard to hold on to his serve, he can't even take a point off Djokovic.

Once again the Murray first serve keeps him in it, but Djokovic looks to be a cut above when he gets the first shot back. Murray is opting for more trips to the net, a stop-volley takes us deuce five. Finally, with some more impressive serving, Murray survives.

Murray relies on his first serve to get him out of a spot of bother, but Djokovic is always capable of pulling you back towards the soup. When a serve-volley doesn't cut the mustard, Murray has his back to the wall once more...

Huge Djokovic return, Murray having to back up. Break point...

As ever on a hard or indoor court, these men are performing the dance of the squeaky shoes. The Paris soundtrack is like a choir of falsetto hamsters. Murray moving well, it's now his turn to make Novak scamper. The Scot slightly vexed, though, having a word with the umpire about an open door that is casting shadows on the court. Picky. There's a mighty forehand exchange, with Murray then living too dangerously on the line. 30-30. Murray outlasts in another epic exchange, but then lapses into the net. On we go...

Image source, Getty Images

24 shots, that previous rally. Djokovic, chastened, gives it a bit of stand-and-deliver, making Murray work hard once more, with a wild Scottish forehand giving Djokovic a two-game cushion. It's better from Murray, though.

Image source, Getty Images

We all know that Murray's two Grand Slam triumphs came with final victories over Djokovic, but it's been slim pickings for the Scot since the US Open win of 2012. Yes there was the glory of Wimbledon the following year but, overall, Djokovic has won 12 of the past 14 meetings. Only in Montreal in August did Murray arrest a slide of eight straight defeats. Djokovic, on the back of the break, puts too much meat on a backhand to allow Murray back to 30-30. A Murray error puts his behind, but the deftest, cheekiest, softest of drops ends an eternal rally. On we go...

BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Barry Flatman, Sunday Times journalist: "That was pretty emphatic. Djokovic was in control over every one of those points, just stepping in a foot or two into the court. That will hit an enormous psychological blow into Murray's mind. Djokovic's confidence must be absolutely supreme at the moment."

Just too good from Djokovic, who already has Murray scampering from the Eiffel Tower to Montmartre. A break to love and the early advantage.

As ever, Murray is wearing the ankle braces that are not dissimilar to a young Forrest Gump. Djokovic has white socks pulled halfway up his shins. Are tennis players the only men cool enough to get away with shorts and socks? Murray in a spot of bother here, 0-30 down. A one-two backhand-forehand gives Djokovic three break points...

Djokovic is playing in his 14th final of the season, a record. Only once, all the way back in Doha in January, has the Serb not gone all the way. He's won nine of those finals. Less man, more remorseless winning machine. A few bounces of the ball, a jack-knife into the serve, a hold to love.

The inscription on the net reminds us we're watching the ATP World Tour, signage at each end of the court tells us we're in Paris. Djokovic is already hunting the line, immediately into his precision, surgical tennis. A 22-shot rally ends with Murray dumping into the net, but that is the only dent on the Scot's serve.

The court, a rectangle of blue, is first invaded by Djokovic, with Murray wiping his face as he wanders behind. The Briton will serve first.

Djokovic is sporting a royal blue shirt and white shorts. Coach Boris Becker is in his box, hair slicked back with a whole tub of styling cream. Murray is in a more sombre black-grey combo. Both are belting down a few final warm-serves.

Max Baggins-Craig: It'd be so rude not to back Andy, he definitely deserves a win, he's proved to be a winner, just fell unfortunate a sometimes