Andrew Castle
BBC Sport tennis commentator

"In match, this it is a free game, Andy will want to make Daniel work very hard so he is exhausted, even if he has to come out and serve at 5-4."

That's a sign of real confidence from Murray - he shapes as if he's going to absolutely bludgeon a forehand, and then pops the cheekiest of drop shots inches over the net. A double fault briefly threatens to halt his serene progress in this game, but a couple of big serves stamp his authority on this second set.

John Lloyd
Former Davis Cup finalist on BBC Two

"Daniel was just late on a few forehands and he hooked them. It was a very good game from Murray, he just stepped up when he needed to."

Ooh, that's ugly from Daniel - he drags an off-balance backhand into the tramlines and Murray has a 15-30 to look at. The pressure tells again on Daniel as he sends a second serve into the tape.

Good poker face from the Japanese captain on the bench. He's giving nothing away. What you can't see is that he's just crushed his pencil in his clenched fist. Another penetrating return from Murray forces his man to net and Murray noses in front.

Image source, Getty Images

Daniel is making life much more difficult for Murray in this set - he even has the temerity to take a point off his serve. But he still hasn't got quite enough in his locker to really trouble the Scot, who holds to 15.

Andrew Castle
BBC Sport tennis commentator

"At some point Murray is going to want to get ahead and take a lead in this set and that is the frustration coming out from him."

Murray leaps for a putaway volley but doesn't quite enough snap on it and it floats into the tramlines. The Japanese captain, by the way, is taking notes on every point - he's really earning his money. Murray briefly threatens in this game at 30-30 but a good backhand down at Murray's feet gets Daniel out of trouble.

Daniel may have started to play with a bit more confidence behind his own serve, but there's still not much he can do about Murray's. Four easy points for the Scot and we're still yet to see a point against serve in this set.

Image source, Reuters

John Lloyd
Former Davis Cup finalist on BBC Two

"In some ways, in this match, it wouldn’t do Murray any harm to go longer in this match than it looks like it is going to.

"Nishikori is a way better opponent than he is playing now and that is going to be a rough match."

The 6ft 3in Daniel has got very long limbs and it's pretty hard to smuggle passing shots past that spidery frame. He stretches out an arm to clip a Murray backhand back over the net and then wins the point with a volley into the open court when Murray races in.

Daniel is definitely playing with a bit more confidence now - he's daring to be aggressive and go for his shots. A big serve secures the hold and makes it eight straight points on serve in this set for the world number 87.

Oh, that's lovely from Murray, pummeling Daniel from side to side with some heavy groundstrokes, then ghosting into the net and feathering a drop shot into the open space. A big serve follows and he too is on the board in this second set with a love hold.

John Lloyd
Former Davis Cup finalist on BBC Two

"There is a little bit of rust showing from Andy. He just needs to play a few games and get back to his best, but it takes a bit of time after five weeks."

Image source, PA

That's better from Daniel. A really solid first point sees him trade with Murray before forcing an error from the Scot. A couple of errors from Murray give the Japanese a love hold.

Laura: Andy just needs to be solid. Daniel respects Andy's return too much so I expect more service errors as the match goes on

Mike Child: Oh do slow down Andy (not too much, obviously). At this rate I won't get home from work in time to watch the second rubber!

Murray's mind has gone walkabout here. A backhand into the net brings up 0-30 for Daniel. But Murray quickly slams the door shut. Three good serves bring up a second set point.

Another big first serve finds the line, and Daniel can't get any more than the frame of his racket on it. Murray in charge.

You know that nightmare you occasionally have where you arrive for a big job interview and you look down and you realise you've forgotten to wear any trousers? Well, Taro Daniel is having the tennis equivalent. Another double fault and once again he's up against it on his own serve. 

A poor volley from Daniel and it's set point Murray. The Scot goes long at his first opportunity, before a good overhead from Daniel gives him a chance to get on the board at last. And he takes it with a big serve. A nerve-settler.

Andrew Castle
BBC Sport tennis commentator

"Tour de Force so far from Andy Murray and Great Britain, in their defence of their Davis Cup title."

Image source, PA

Murray is rattling through this first set now. His fastest serve of the match so far completes another blink-and-you-miss-it hold to love.

Darren Pattison: Time to settle down and watch some AWESOME tennis. GO TEAM GB!!!

Ian Rhodes: Here we go again Come on team GB!!