Image source, BBC Sport

Andy Murray's wife Kim cheers her man back out for the game, her encouragement clearly audible on the effects microphone.

He might need more spousal comfort at the end of the game.

Murray - having spent all his challenges already for this set - is bemused to see a Marin Cilic serve called in.

Hawk-Eye play it out for those at home and Murray is indeed right - by about six inches or so.

He is still chuntering away to himself about the call as the game disappears down the gurgler to love.

Peter Fleming
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion

It is almost as if Murray views himself as a great fighter.

Winning love games is not him, he'd rather go deuce, ad, deuce, ad and show everyone how tough he is.

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Andy Murray finds a 129mph ace in the quiver - his fastest serve of the match so far - to knock Cilic back from break-point.

And then takes the invite when Marin Cilic sits one up high and short on his forehand side. A bop across court zips away for a winner and Marin does not even get out of the blocks for it.

Andy Murray rattles to 40-0 in double-quick time.

He seems to have a definite philosophy of throwing everything at the ball from such positions in the belief he will come up cherries on at least one of the three game points.

Not this time. Cilic back to deuce on the back of some routine errors.

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Marin Cilic takes a total air-shot as the ball skids off the baseline and past his swishing racquet on the game's opening point.

The Croat shoots daggers at the Queen's Club grass. Not a lot he could do about that one.

Andy Murray has a second serve to look at at 15-30, it is right in his hitting zone, but the Briton loops a strange forehand wide.

That was his chance to force the issue. Cilic doesn't look back.

Andy Murray's cross-court lob is fast becoming a signature shot.

Marin Cilic is a six-foot-six-inch mammoth, but the Croat can only frame a smash wide as he stretches to the skies at 30-15.

Murray makes good his escape.

Matt McGladrigan: That was Murray's best set of the tournament so far.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Queen's Club

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The Murray player box is jam packed today, with Judy, Kim and GB captain Leon Smith in the back row, while the front seats are reserved for the regular team - plus this week's hitting partner Alex Ward and his Spanish coach. 

Ivan Lendl remains immune to the lure of clapping, or even moving. He's back in the groove.

Peter Fleming
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion

It is Andy Murray's ability to put return into play.

You can defend well but if you don't penetrate the court enough you are left as a sitting duck because Murray loves a target.

Cilic needs to be more accurate on his serve.

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What a way to seal the deal.

Marin Cilic comes marching to the net with Andy Murray forced out wide.

But that just sets Murray up for one of those death-of-glory passes across court that he revels in.

He dips a forehand over the net, wide of Cilic's groping racquet and in for a beaut of a winner.

Murray with the chance to put this first set to the sword early and have the honour in the second...

Peter Fleming
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion

You think if Cilic is going to have any chance in this match he needs to get a good clump of first serves. 

He needs to get a couple of cheap points per game.

Good placement as well as power behind these serves from Andy Murray.

From 30-15, he gets one really deep, right up on the service line and Marin Cilic can only bunt it long as he fishes the ball out of his ribcage.

One service hold away from the opener and apart from that fourth game, the British number one has been rock-solid.

Peter Fleming
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion

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Murray is still struggling to get his feel for the court. 

He's not quite sure when to slide and when to grip.

We are speeding towards the finale of this opening set.

Marin Cilic holds to love, winning the final point with a lovely backhand punch down the line taken on the rise.

Ali Nili is in the umpire's chair by the way. The American has a Christian-Bale-in-Batman growl on the mic

It really adds something to a match.

Peter Fleming
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion

Murray is spectacular when defending. He has got such control of the racquet head whether he is in balance or off balance.

Andy Murray motors through a service game to 15.

A couple of aces in there, both pushing the speed gun past 120 mph.

Those were his third and fourth of the match so far. He has landed with 70% of his first serves as well.

Good stats.

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Andy Murray has a little glimmer of a chance at 15-30, but Marin Cilic firmly shuts the door.

Goran Ivanisevic nods approvingly on the sidelines. The Croat great looks like he has been through pushed through a Shoreditch barber shop since his playing days.

The beard of a conscientious hermit and the short sides/floppy top of a synth player. 

Peter Fleming
Seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion

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It is really encouraging to see how aggressive Murray is from the back of the court, right from the start.

Gritty, gutsy stuff.

Andy Murray flirts with danger, but tip-toes along the cliff edge and back to safety.

His serve stepped up a notch just when it was needed. 

That is the top-five quality that might well win this match.