Andy Murray gets a big slice of lucky pie with a hefty net cord that turns a meat-and-drink forehand into a deadly drop-shot.

Only a half-hearted apology for that one.

Radek Stepanek takes the game regardless and slams a fist against his chest in celebration.

The tennis Tarzan lives.

Image source, Getty Images

Irresistible force meet immovable object.

Andy Murray's game - more attritional than a shovel load of a gravel in a spin dryer - brings up a break point at 30-40.

Radek Stepanek cranks down a pinging serve to see off the danger.

These Stepanek service games are right royal wrestles.

Image source, Getty Images

Radek Stepanek is still mining a rich seam of form.

Even the points that he is losing are stretching, scurrying affairs for Andy Murray.

The Czech has the proverbial good touch for a big man. A drop-shot with more disguise than Carlos the Jackal for 15-15.

And a delicious poke down the line for 30-30. That one earned a double downward fist pump.

Andy Murray fights his way through - Stepanek climbing into a return but finding only gauze - but it is a heck of a scrap.

Image source, Getty Images

Meanwhile, fourth seed Rafael Nadal has wasted no time in winning the first set of his match against Australia's Sam Groth 6-1.

The Spaniard is chasing a staggering 10th title at Roland Garros.

Dan Bridges: Watching Murray's 5th set as a revision break... Hopefully no Wimbledon magic of Isner vs Mahut

 Emma O'Brien: Andy Murray sure does know how to make us all nervous!  

Andy Murray wins a cat-and-mouse lob exchange, puling Radek Stepanek into the net and then shoeing him away to the back of the court to bring up 0-30.

Here's a chance.

A corking forehand winner. A backhand across court, And Stepanek - as sure and steady as the Terminator - marches his way back to 30-30.

The 37-year-old is keeping ahead of Father Time and pace with Murray so far in this decider.

Radek Stepanek yelps with delight as Andy Murray cuffs long to offer up 15-30.

A lingering look downcourt. Needle, needle.

Andy Murray wins the next point and clenches a fist.

And the next as Stepanek nets. "C'mon," yells Murray. Touche.

A whopper of an ace to win the game. The mind-games are still not over though you feel.

Image source, Getty Images

Simon Briggs
Daily Telegraph tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Andy Murray is not really bossing the match as you would expect a player of his calibre to do. Stepanek looks a little bit tired but he's so unpredictable and that's why he's such a difficult player to face. You can't really read his mind and the shots he might play."

Via a doozy of a drop-shot, Radek Stepanek holds.

The Czech attempts to whip up a bit of Gallic support as he beckons down the cheers on his way back to his stool.

That could be another route under Murray's skin.

Break point Andy Murray as he chases a net cord and crashes away a winner.

Radek Stepanek comes lumbering into the net though to save it, his giant flapping forehand volleys cutting down Murray's angles and options.

 Stepanek has game point, but Murray draws him into an extended rally and milks his forehand for an error.

Back to parity. A massive game this. Stepanek holds and the belief flows again. Murray breaks and it could be a one-way express ticket to secondroundsville.

Image source, Getty Images

The only time that Andy Murray has lost in the first round of the French Open was way back in 2006 when he was beaten by Gael Monfils on his debut on the Parisian clay.

He has never lost to a player ranked as low as Radek Stepanek (129 in the world) at a Grand Slam.

So, formality from here as we go into a decider?

Perhaps not. Stepanek stands up well to Murray's probing baseliners, answering all the questions posed over his fifth-set mobility. 40-0 to the Czech.

Murray runs down a feathered drop-shot though to pull it back to 40-30 though. Stepanek plants a forehand into the net though and we are to deuce...

That is a beautiful shot from Murray. What a volley, tight at the net with no angle at all, he digs out a fizzing Stepanek return, a flick of the wrist and it's just over the net, away on the bounce.  

Full of momentum. Murray means business, and a brief Stepanek revival is squashed by a serve too powerful, the Czech shooting limply into the net.

We're going to a decider.

A five-setter including an evening in front of the TV though, Matt. 

Stepanek now. Bidding to become the oldest player to win a Grand Slam since Jimmy Connors in 1992. Some of these shots look a little weak, this one wayward to the back of the court, handing Murray a break point for the set at 30-40. 

First service no good. Murray hauls the second just over the net, and Stepanek nails the return, looping cruelly beyond. Back to 40-40 and here comes the set-up for the serve and volley, Stepanek, stronger now, holds.

Image source, Getty Images

Levi Crisp: Come on Andy, please complete the comeback!

Matt Taggart: If Murray does pull this one out of the bag, you've got to ask how much a 5-setter will have taken out of him this early. 

Image source, Getty Images

Brilliant start from Stepanek. Solid returns switched up to a blistering forehand that sends Murray slumping, totally wrong-footed for the first point of the day. Start as you mean to go on and all that.

The momentum's all with the 37-year-old. A couple of wayward shots from Murray hands his Czech opponent two break points. 

But what's this? Murray powers himself back into the picture, saving them both before taking the game with an ace. The fourth set within touching distance.

Here we go then. Murray to get us under way.