Andy Murray's serve suddenly turns Scotch Bonnet hot and that is far too much for Grigor Dimitrov to swallow.

A whipsmart hold.

Andy Murray works up one break point at 30-40, but Grigor Dimitrov wades into a forehand like a Victorian explorer hacking through Amazonian undergrowth.

A second break point for Murray. He is knocking on the door with his steel toecaps now.

Murray over-cooks as he looks to float a slice backhand deep onto the baseline and manoeuvre into position.

But Grigor has added a little more upstairs steel to a game that was also upholstered in pure silk downstairs.

He holds serve via a sublime drop-shot that dies door-nail dead out of the Scot's reach.

Image source, EPA

There is an unusual look to the courtside seats in Beijing.

They are grouped into little booths of about nine seats each by waist-high screens.

A bit of a jazz club vibe to the whole thing.

"Nice", external as John Thomson would have said in the Fast Show's sketch.

Andy Murray takes the game to 15 with a pinpoint lob and the winning shot in a dinky net exchange.

 The crowd are enjoying this one.

Thanks to Gary Rose for steering us through the first set. Mike Henson now taking the controls.

Andy Murray may have bagged the opener but he the fine details of his game are not as tight and tidy as he would have liked them to be.

He chews the collective ear of his players box as he misses a couple of chances to get into the game on return and allows Dimitrov to make the first mark on the second-set scoreboard.

Dimitrov takes the game's first point as a rally ends with Murray hitting the net. Murray's response is swift as he takes the next three points. Dimitrov then hits a backhand return from Murray's second serve out of play and Murray takes the first set.

One more and he wins title number five for the year.

Image source, Getty Images

Dimitrov does what he needs to do as he holds to love but Murray is now serving for the first set.

Murray races into 40-0 lead as he looks to claim the eighth game with minimum of fuss. Dimitrov nails a service return winner to get off the mark in the game, but Murray gets the next point and Dimitrov is serving to stay in the set.

Image source, Reuters

Toniwater: Andy Murray in three. He's playing well but I'd love to see him really tested, Grigor Dimitrov is meant to have the game to be a champ! Lets see what he's got!

Judith: I have never relaxed watching Andy, let's win set one and concentrate on set two.

Image source, Reuters

Faced with being a double break down, Dimitrov is not giving this one out with a fight. 

There's a real tussle going on after the game goes to deuce as both repeatedly save break points.

A strong serve by Dimitrov has Murray stumbling but he somehow manages to return. Surely Dimitrov is going to get this one? No, he puts it into the net.

He recovers, though, and saves break point. Could be crucial.

Here's the answer to Andy's question earlier. 

Thanks Brian!

What do you think of Murray's performance so far? Tweet us using #bbctennis. 

Bit of pressure for Murray on his serve. A lengthy rally ends when he hits the net to make it 30-30 before he whacks a forehand wide to give Dimitrov break point.

Murray mutters some words of encouragement to himself and it does the trick. He takes the next two points before Dimitrov puts a shot into the net to hand Murray the game.

Dimitrov keeps in touch by taking the next game but he is still a break down. The Bulgarian has upped his first-serve game, and Murray can't cope with it in this game. 

Image source, Getty Images

That's the way to hit back. A 30th ace of the week helps Murray win his service game swiftly.

Plenty of 'ooohs' from the stands as Dimitrov starts to find his range. He has Murray stretched on the court, moving into a 40-30 lead with a couple of beefy forehands.

Murray gets to deuce but it's advantage Dimitrov with a strong cross court shot before taking the next point to get off the mark.

A bit better from Dimitrov. He gets stuck into a rally at 15-15 before a strong backhand eventually gives Murray the point. He then closes it out to take the second set.

Strong start by Andy Murray as he immediately breaks his Bulgarian opponent. Murray was quick out of the blocks, racing into a 40-0 lead. Dimitrov gets a point back but ultimately two double faults cost him. He's looking nervous.

Image source, Getty Images

Go time.

It's Grigor Dimitrov to serve first...

While Sunday Dinner is bubbling away for those following this final in the UK, it's just approaching 8pm in Beijing. 

Murray has his fans here, there's more than a few British and Scottish flags draped on the seats in the stands.

Right then. No messing about. The players are on court and ready to go.

Win this and Andy Murray takes another step towards becoming world number one. He's been in fine form so far in China - having not yet dropped a set.