Nicolas Mahut with a sliced backhand winner that has Andrew Castle and John Lloyd purring like a couple of Cheshire cats in the commentary box.

The Frenchman has the touch of a bomb disposer at the net.

A hold to love and we are cantering towards tiebreaksville.

Andy Murray's serve is popping like sherbet candy.

A crackerjack ace out wide seals a hold to love.

That is his fifth ace of the match so far.

Andy Murray's dipping cross-court return targets Nicolas Mahut's kneecaps like a 60s East End gangster to bring up 30-30.

Mahut is made of stern stuff though.

The Frenchman continues to press forward to the net, keeping faith with his old-school game.

He puts away a shoulder-high backhand volley to see off the danger.

Andrew Castle
BBC Sport tennis commentator

"Andy Murray is playing with a real sense of freshness to his game and I can't help but feel that the return of Ivan Lendl is a big reason for that."

Andy Murray racks up 40-0 in a twinkle.

But his second serve is on a platter for Nicolas Mahut on the next point.

The Frenchman tucks his napkin under his chin and wallops a backhand return winner.

Beefing up that second serve will be near the top of Ivan Lendl's in tray.

Murray is over the line as Mahut slips on the next point. Mahut is up and walking after a grimace or two.

Third time is the charm.

After two break points fail to stick, Andy Murray nails the game with a lovely side-spinning shot down the line that left Nicolas Mahut bobbing helplessly at the middle of the net.

A yelp of delight from the Scot. He has sounded upbeat today.

Richard Gasquet won't be needing his backhand this week after defeat by American Steve Johnson yesterday.

Nicolas Mahut seems to have pilfered it from his compatriot's racquetbag as he puts away a lovely winner for 40-0.

Not so fast though.

A steaming Murray pass, two double faults and we are to deuce...

The first hint of trouble on the Andy Murray serve as the British kingpin faces up to 30-30.

Murray opts to take the Hut by the horns. Into the net he trundles...and a flashing backhand pass goes the opposite way at a pace of knots, landing in to bring up break point.

Murray dribbles a half-volley into the net to give up the serve. 

The Queen's Club applause is as watery as the west London sunshine.

This is no virtual first-round bye.

Nicolas Mahut is planning to give the Queen's Club crowd their money's worth after a stop-start-but-mainly-stop first day and a half.

The Frenchman holds to love.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Queen's Club

"It was just like old times out on Court Three at 10am this morning as Lendl directed the practice drills and cracked a few funnies, while Murray hammered forehands like the glory days of 2012 and 2013. 

"Lendl then apparently swept through the player lounge, firing acerbic one-liners at all the familiar faces queueing up to say hello. It's been all smiles so far, but Mahut could ruin the atmosphere. 

"This time yesterday he was winning a grass-court title in the Netherlands."

Everyone is trying to get a sniff of any changes that Ivan Lendl might make to Andy Murray's game.

The Czech-born American has only rolled into town recently, but Murray looks eager as a beaver with the great man in his players box.

A fist pump to his camp as he sits down after another authoritative service hold.

John Lloyd
Former Davis Cup captain on BBC Two

"Mahut is one of the best volleyers on the tour. He's got a very good technique and is very confident at the net.

"This has the makings of an excellent match because they are both good grass-court players."

Image source, Getty

Nicolas Mahut has won one of his previous five meetings with four-time Queen's champion Andy Murray - knocking him out of the Aegon Championships last 32 in 2012.

He has a silky all-court game - full of touch and craft - that plays like a Pathe newsreel on the grass.

It gets him on the board.

Andy Murray opens his campaign with an ace that thuds into the backboards past a flailing Mahut.

A touch of dinky net play wraps up the second. Another scud of a serve moves the Scot 40-0 clear.

Ivan Lendl must have given the confidence a massage.

Game sealed to 15.

Image source, Getty Images

In honour of Ivan Lendl clambering back aboard the Andy Murray train, we want to know what would be your first words of advice if you were the British number one's coach.

Judging by photos from the pair's successful previous hook-up, a quick trip to the barbers might be first on the agenda under Lendl's new broom.

Let us know via #bbctennis on Twitter or on 81111 on text from UK phones

Image source, Getty Images

Nicolas Mahut comes into this match on the back of some hefty silverware.

The 34-year-old picked up the Ricoh Open grass-court title in the Dutch city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch just yesterday.

A quick change of flights and he has packed up that European Cup knock-off and is ready to go in West London a little more than 24 hours later.

Image source, EPA

Second seed Stan Wawrinka has bitten the dust in the day's opener - going out in straight sets to Fernando Verdasco.

Fourth seed Richard Gasquet came a cropper in the only match possible on Monday.

Can Andy Murray avoid a similar upset?

The organisers will certainly be hoping so. The players are out on court and knocking up.

Image source, Getty Images

Andy Murray has been knocking around Queen's looking for an opponent for a couple of days now.

After a wet start to Tuesday's play, he has finally found one.

The British number one is about to face up to Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in the first round of the Aegon Championships and find out if he has his grass-court legs after a month or so of sliding around continental clay.

After Romeo Beckham...

Image source, BBC Sport

...John McEnroe...

Image source, Rex Features

..and, this morning, Ivan Lendl...

Image source, Getty Images

...it is finally time for Nicolas Mahut.

Image source, Getty Images