Postpublished at 14:51 British Summer Time 23 June 2020
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 9-9 Norrie/Broady
Oh, I've cursed them. First a wonderful winner from Murray keeps them at bay, then the second soon follows.
Two clear points needed for the win...
Fit-again Andy Murray wins his first match since November
Former world number one beats Liam Broady 6-2 6-2
First day of Battle of the Brits tournament at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton
British number one Dan Evans overcomes Jay Clarke 6-3 6-1
Kyle Edmund beats James Ward 6-1 6-4
Liam Broady/Cameron Norrie beat Jamie Murray/Neal Skupski 3-6 7-5 11-9
James Ward/Kyle Edmund v Jay Clarke/Dom Inglot ends the opening day
Becky Grey
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 9-9 Norrie/Broady
Oh, I've cursed them. First a wonderful winner from Murray keeps them at bay, then the second soon follows.
Two clear points needed for the win...
Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 7-9 Norrie/Broady
Those nerves look alright to me. Broady lands a big first serve to earn two match points...
Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 7-8 Norrie/Broady
Skupski does what he needs to, holding serve to keep the match tie-break to just one mini-break. But now Norrie and Broady serving for the match... how are those nerves?
Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 5-8 Norrie/Broady
Fun? This is serious stuff. Norrie and Broady get back on track, a forehand down the line beating Murray and kissing the line.
Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 5-6 Norrie/Broady*
What a touch! It is all in the hands. Jamie Murray finds an angle which most mathematicians couldn't with a deft cross-court volley for 4-6. And the next point goes on their side of the scoreboard too. Back to within one...
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 3-6 Norrie/Broady
"Great serve," Broady says sportingly after Skupski saves his team with second attempt for 5-2
But then it is time for Broady to receive the praise after a change-up in serve brings a reward.
One of the mini-breaks goes though in the next point after Norrie loses at net duel with Skupski.
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 1-5 Norrie/Broady
Momentum is firmly with Norrie and Broady. Skupski can only fire into the net from close range, leaving the underdogs halfway there...
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 1-4 Norrie/Broady
Three quickly becomes four. Murray and Skupski need this one. They get it when they rally and Broady whips a forehand wide of the line. Hope?
Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 0-3 Norrie/Broady*
Wow! Broady and Norrie raced out of the blocks in the 10-point sprint. A shock on the cards here...
Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 Norrie/Broady
Cam Norrie informs us that he needs the toilet. Thanks, Cam. He tried to whisper in fairness but the mic on the bench picked him up.
Hold it in... you've got a first to 10 tie-break to play first.
Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 Norrie/Broady
Numero uno... goes begging. The second? They've got it! A rapid return from Broady is batted into the net by Skupski.
MATCH TIE-BREAK!
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-6 Norrie/Broady
Here we go... Norrie whacks a forehand between Murray and Skupski for 0-30. Skupski serving under pressure now...
A first serve is landed and a wayward return eases the pressure. But then Broady flicks a double-handed backhand from the ad side back into the other corner.
Set point...
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-6 Norrie/Broady
Even one of the great bastions of the Roman Empire wouldn't keep out Norrie and Broady on this form, though. Broady seals a brilliant hold to love with an ace.
Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-5 Norrie/Broady*
Never mind 'The Soul', Murray and Skupski should be 'The Wall'. The Anglo-Scot pairing prove a stronger barrier than Hadrian's, refusing to be broken at the net on their way to levelling up again. Rock solid.
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 4-5 Norrie/Broady
Oh, and worth mentioning if Norrie and Broady do take the set then we will go to a match tie-break. First to 10 points.
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 4-5 Norrie/Broady
Hold to love. Ideal. Now Norrie and Broady are one game from levelling the match. Now where is that break which they've been grasping for but couldn't make stick?
Murray/Skupski 6-3 4-4 Norrie/Broady*
There has not been much between these teams, to be fair. Only the one break of serve early in the first set for Murray and Skuspki, while Norrie and Broady have squandered a few chances of their own.
Is this another one at 30-30? Not if Neal Skupski has anything to do with it. The Scouser shows clever hands and quick feet - not to mention sharp thinking as he careers towards the back wall - to get a deep ball back, allowing his wingman Murray to swoop in and mop up the return.
Story of the match for the Swingers... close but not close enough.
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 3-4 Norrie/Broady
What a time to make a move! Murray and Skupski hit the pedal to race 0-40 ahead... a break now would not be great news for Norrie and Broady.
But, again, it is the Swingers who show the 'Soul', clawing the game back to a decisive deuce after targeting the Skupski backhand.
Norrie pins back Skupski with another good serve, moving in to clunk away a winner. High racquets and big smiles for the lefties.
Murray/Skupski 6-3 3-3 Norrie/Broady*
They've only gone and clawed it back. Deuce. Murray's serve is under pressure for the third time in the match, but the boss keeps his nerve to land a second serve which Broady can't return to safety.
*Murray/Skupski 6-3 2-3 Norrie/Broady
Ahhh here we go! Broady gets 'tagged' at the net, breaking out in laughter and grinning as he curses his luck. Reckon that might cost him a tenner in the lads' forfeit fund.
Murray and Skupski cruise towards a hold at 40-0, Broady pulling a forehand return right out of the top drawer to make them keep working for the game.
Oh hello! Norrie whacks a cross-court winner from the baseline into the same corner... bit of pressure here now...