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1728: Waston gets it to 5-3. The end is in sight.....any more shocks up Watson's sleeve? Kanepi serving for the match.
1725: Watson holds and she survives a little longer. 5-3. Nadal 5-3 down in set three. A mini-revival. Sharapova has definitely overcome her early wobbles and is 2-0 up in the third set.
1720: Kanepi keeps her fans happy though as she hangs on to her serve. 5-2. "Too passive on her return" says Andrew Castle. Watson had her chances there. The Brit now serving to stay in the French Open. After Baltacha's demise earlier today, could this be the end of Britain's women this year at Roland Garros? Watson is a predator at the net and after sweet volley to Kanepi's forehand, the Brit stands strong and sweeps a winning volley to level at 15-15 on her serve. Needs a few more of those or it's au revoir Paris.
1718: And that could be vital. Kanepi makes the break and is now serving with a 4-2 lead. Hello.....Watson gets a break point. Time to pounce Heather. Can she do it?
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1710: Watson 2-2 Kanepi. There's a bit more belief running across the face of Miss Watson. Can belief run across a face? Probably not. I spoke too soon. Kanepi dishes up a monster serve. 3-2 and going with serve. News comes through from Chatrier. Sharapova has taken the second set 6-4 after trailing 4-1. Decider. Any fight left in the boots of the 17-year-old Garcia?
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1704: Too strong by Kanepi. She strides to mid-court and spanks the ball away for a 40-15 lead and a few seconds later it's game. 2-1 to the Estonian. Only 50% of Watson's first serves being won. Enough said.
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1659: Rafa Rafa Rafa. What are you doing? Two sets up but 4-1 down in the third to Andujar - the 24-year-old Spaniard ranked 48.
1657: Sharapova showing some fight against 17-year-old Caroline Garcia from France. She's got it back to trail 4-3 in the second set but still a break down. Any life left in the Sharaps? Did anybody see this one coming?
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1654: Sam Smith on Red Button says: "A decent set of tennis but Kanepi showing why she's seeded 16 in the world."
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1647: Over on Court Philippe Chatrier, Maria Sharapova is having a shocker. She's 6-3 and 3-1 down to Caroline Garcia - ranked 188 in the world. A massive shock considering how well the Russian has been playing over the last few weeks.
1644: Have I forgotten Nadal? Quiet for sure, but not forgotten. He's 1-1 in the third set with Andujar. That's all I've got for now.
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BBC Sport's Piers Newbery at Roland Garros: "Hello, we've got some wacky Estonian boys in headbands supporting their woman. Plenty more Brits I'd guess. Watson starting to trade blows with Kanepi now, but Murray's press beckons. I hope to be back for the conclusion on Court 3..."
Commentator Sam Smith reflects her disappointment that Kanepi has not been recruited by her country to partake in the country's favourite past-time...in hammer throwing. Not sure what she means. Agile on her feet perhaps. What skills do you need to chuck the hammering tool I ask myself?
Commentator Sam Smith reflects her disappointment that Kanepi has not been recruited by her country to partake in the country's favourite past-time...in hammer throwing. Not sure what she means. Agile on her feet perhaps. What skills do you need to chuck the hammering tool I ask myself?
1635: The schedule for Friday has just been announced, and the third-round match everyone is looking forward to - Novak Djokovic versus Juan Martin Del Potro - is last on Philippe Chatrier. Defending women's champion Francesca Schiavone is first on Suzanne Lenglen against China's Shuia Penn, followed by Roger Federer against Janko Tipsarevic and world number one Caroline Wozniacki against Daniela Hantuchova.
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Andrew Castle on the Red Button: "Heather has got a big hitter down the other end so it is up to her to make things as difficult as possible for her. She needs to keep disrupting Kanepi's rhythm by mixing up the spin and speed of her shots."
1627: Watson, only 19, now serving 2-0 down and she's needing a few steady serves here to calm the head against the big-hitter from Estonia.
BBC Sport's Piers Newbery at Roland Garros: "Low stands around Court 3 mean it's even windier out here, going to be a test but Kanepi can be wild so might hurt her more. There should be a big gap in class but Watson's attitude is a weapon in itself."
1622: Not the best of starts for Guernsey's finest. She loses her serve immediately as Kanepi, sporting an elegant black number, looks rather dominant. Back to Nadal - and he's grabbed a break and now serving for the second set. Perhaps the Spaniard was just getting a little nervous in front of the Red Button cameras.
1620: Watson and Kanepi have never faced each other before. "Happyland" is how Watson described her feelings after beating Stephanie Foretz Gacon on Monday. How happy is happyland? That's pretty happy I'd say.
1617: Time for some news from around the courts, starting with a struggle for 2007 semi-finalist Maria Sharapova, who is a break and 5-1 down in the first set to France's Caroline Garcia on Philippe Chatrier. Elsewhere, eighth seed Jurgen Melzer, who reached the last four last year, has started well against Lukas Rosol of the Czech Republic on Court Two and is already a break up at 2-1 in the first set - early days in that one, mind. Over on Court Six, 28th seed Nikolay Davydenko is having a real battle with Croatia's Antonio Veic. They shared the first two sets but the Russian is a break up in the third.
1612: My Parisian insiders tell me Heather Watson walked on to court a few moments ago, Ipod pumping in her ears. She'll be up against Kaia Kanepi. More stuff on their stats in a bit.
1609: Apologies for the delay in updating Nadal and Andujar. Busying keeping across Heather Watson, tracking down the whereabouts of BBC Sport's Piers Newbery in Paris and hunting down someone to make me a cuppa. Nadal leads 4-3. WARNING. RED BUTTON heading to Watson after this game.
BBC Sport's Piers Newbery at Roland Garros: "Mayer beats Baghdatis on ct3, time for Watson v Kanepi. Murray press in 45 minutes - tricky #bbctennis"
you hearing that? HEATHER WATSON ON SHORTLY.............
you hearing that? HEATHER WATSON ON SHORTLY.............
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Turn on the style? Rafa Rafa Rafa...you've made me look a right plum. Andujar gets it back to 2-2.
1551: Nadal grabs a break and he's 2-0 up in the second set. He'll be turning on the style now right? I wonder how his legs are feeling after his five-setter against John Isner. Wind still causing havoc in Paris.
1547: Afternoon. Thank you Monsieur Bevan. Right then Rafa. What are you up to sir?
| By Chris Bevan |
1543: The start of another battle for Rafa seems like a good time to bid you farewell and leave you in the capable hands of Mark Ashenden for the rest of day five. Be nice to him, and I'll see you again on Friday, hopefully Nadal will have finished by then...
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Yep, the wind was a nightmare, and as Piers in Paris points out, it made serving very difficult: there were 26 break points in all.
Murray beats Bolelli 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 7-5
Not the greatest performance ever from Andy Murray, and he made hard work of it at times, but he got the job done against the world number 126. At 0-30 down, it seemed there might be one final twist but Murray produced four big serves to finally cross the line. He will play France's Arnaud Clement or Gemany's Michael Berrer next.
Not the greatest performance ever from Andy Murray, and he made hard work of it at times, but he got the job done against the world number 126. At 0-30 down, it seemed there might be one final twist but Murray produced four big serves to finally cross the line. He will play France's Arnaud Clement or Gemany's Michael Berrer next.
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BBC Sport's Piers Newbery at Roland Garros: "Murray to serve for match - scrappy. Meanwhile, Mayer leads Baghdatis by two sets - potential Murray presser-Watson clash looming."
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*Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 6-5 Bolelli
Yep... finally the end is nigh. At 0-30 on the Bolelli serve, it seems Murray's moment has come and, although Bolelli fights back to 30-all, two super backhands eventually secure the break. After two hours and forty seven minutes, the Scot will serve for the match next. Over on Lenglen, Nadal has been broken back, so he and Pablo Andujar are back on serve in the first set, with the defending champion leading 4-3.
* denotes NEXT to serve
Yep... finally the end is nigh. At 0-30 on the Bolelli serve, it seems Murray's moment has come and, although Bolelli fights back to 30-all, two super backhands eventually secure the break. After two hours and forty seven minutes, the Scot will serve for the match next. Over on Lenglen, Nadal has been broken back, so he and Pablo Andujar are back on serve in the first set, with the defending champion leading 4-3.
* denotes NEXT to serve
Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 5-5 Bolelli*
And no problems holding for Murray this time either. Now's the time for him to strike on the Bolelli serve, surely, and get this match done and dusted... ?
* denotes NEXT to serve
And no problems holding for Murray this time either. Now's the time for him to strike on the Bolelli serve, surely, and get this match done and dusted... ?
* denotes NEXT to serve
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*Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 4-5 Bolelli
Panic over. Bolelli, it seems, just doesn't have the bottle when he finds himself in the box seat. Murray has been lethargy personified for the most part this afternoon but he is two sets up and we are back on serve in the third. Nadal, meanwhile, is a break up in the first set against Pablo Andujar.
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Panic over. Bolelli, it seems, just doesn't have the bottle when he finds himself in the box seat. Murray has been lethargy personified for the most part this afternoon but he is two sets up and we are back on serve in the third. Nadal, meanwhile, is a break up in the first set against Pablo Andujar.
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Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 3-5 Bolelli*
Murray is still playing well within himself, offering Bolelli plenty of encouragement. He takes it too, with a rasping forehand winner to set up a break point, which takes a big serve to save. Murray is soon back in trouble though, sending a backhand long down the line, and he has to scrap to save his bacon again. A third break point swiftly follows, and this time Bolelli, who is still attacking, takes it. He will serve for the third set next, and maybe the crowd on Philippe Chatrier will have a match on their hands after all.
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Murray is still playing well within himself, offering Bolelli plenty of encouragement. He takes it too, with a rasping forehand winner to set up a break point, which takes a big serve to save. Murray is soon back in trouble though, sending a backhand long down the line, and he has to scrap to save his bacon again. A third break point swiftly follows, and this time Bolelli, who is still attacking, takes it. He will serve for the third set next, and maybe the crowd on Philippe Chatrier will have a match on their hands after all.
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1459: On the red button, Andrew Castle stresses the importance of having a B game, which is definitely what Andy Murray is relying on today. John Lloyd adds: "You have to dig in deep and that's what Murray is doing. You can't always hit the ball in the middle of the strings. It just doesn't happen."
*Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 3-4 Bolelli
Murray should really be a break up in the third set and two games away from a place in round three. He's not, because at 0-40 and holding three break points, he throws in a couple of stinking returns and is quickly reeled back in. Murray's anger is apparent when he returns to his chair at the change-over. This is proving a lot harder than it should be. "He is struggling to make himself get through this," says Andrew Castle on the Red Button. Over on Suzanne Lenglen, Rafael Nadal and Pablo Andujar are still on serve early in the first set.
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Murray should really be a break up in the third set and two games away from a place in round three. He's not, because at 0-40 and holding three break points, he throws in a couple of stinking returns and is quickly reeled back in. Murray's anger is apparent when he returns to his chair at the change-over. This is proving a lot harder than it should be. "He is struggling to make himself get through this," says Andrew Castle on the Red Button. Over on Suzanne Lenglen, Rafael Nadal and Pablo Andujar are still on serve early in the first set.
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Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 3-3 Bolelli*
The atmosphere seems a bit flat on Philippe Chatrier, although that might be because it is only about half full. I suppose that while this remains a procession for the British number one, there is not a lot for them to get excited about - TV pictures have just shown one woman reading her paper, for example. Anyway, back on court, Bolelli does pick up a couple of points but this is still a comfortable hold for Murray who is trying desperately to gee himself up.
* denotes NEXT to serve
The atmosphere seems a bit flat on Philippe Chatrier, although that might be because it is only about half full. I suppose that while this remains a procession for the British number one, there is not a lot for them to get excited about - TV pictures have just shown one woman reading her paper, for example. Anyway, back on court, Bolelli does pick up a couple of points but this is still a comfortable hold for Murray who is trying desperately to gee himself up.
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*Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 2-3 Bolelli
Not many fireworks in this third set so far, but Murray won't be too bothered about that. Bolelli is still serving well and occasionally looks ultra-impressive when he finds the corners with a booming groundstroke, following up to despatch anything left short. His main problem, though, is that he has not got near to Murray's serve for a while.
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Not many fireworks in this third set so far, but Murray won't be too bothered about that. Bolelli is still serving well and occasionally looks ultra-impressive when he finds the corners with a booming groundstroke, following up to despatch anything left short. His main problem, though, is that he has not got near to Murray's serve for a while.
* denotes NEXT to serve
Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 2-2 Bolelli*
Er, not a lot to tell you about here, apart from that was another comfortable hold to love for Murray. Servers are definitely on top at the start of this third set. It's still gusty out on Philippe Chatrier, but at least there is a decent crowd in there now watching this one.
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Er, not a lot to tell you about here, apart from that was another comfortable hold to love for Murray. Servers are definitely on top at the start of this third set. It's still gusty out on Philippe Chatrier, but at least there is a decent crowd in there now watching this one.
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*Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 1-2 Bolelli
It would be easy for Bolelli to fold here but some solid serving keeps him ticking over nicely in this third set, and that's a hold to love.
* denotes NEXT to serve
It would be easy for Bolelli to fold here but some solid serving keeps him ticking over nicely in this third set, and that's a hold to love.
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Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 1-1 Bolelli*
Some sloppy play by Murray sees him drift to 30-all but a big serve helps him out before he pulls another of those spinning sliced backhand lobs out of the bag to help him hold. There is absolutely nothing Bolelli can do about it either, apart from watch the ball dip over his head.
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Some sloppy play by Murray sees him drift to 30-all but a big serve helps him out before he pulls another of those spinning sliced backhand lobs out of the bag to help him hold. There is absolutely nothing Bolelli can do about it either, apart from watch the ball dip over his head.
* denotes NEXT to serve
*Murray 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 0-1 Bolelli
At two sets down, Bolelli knows he is on the brink here and at deuce he is hanging on a bit before coming into the net to force the mistakes from Murray. "He wobbled a bit there but it was a good hold in the end," says John Lloyd on the red button. Elsewhere, defending champion Rafael Nadal is next up on Suzanne Lenglen, up against compatriot Pablo Andujar. He will be hoping for an easier time of things today than he got off John Isner on Tuesday.
* denotes NEXT to serve
At two sets down, Bolelli knows he is on the brink here and at deuce he is hanging on a bit before coming into the net to force the mistakes from Murray. "He wobbled a bit there but it was a good hold in the end," says John Lloyd on the red button. Elsewhere, defending champion Rafael Nadal is next up on Suzanne Lenglen, up against compatriot Pablo Andujar. He will be hoping for an easier time of things today than he got off John Isner on Tuesday.
* denotes NEXT to serve
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Some shots of real quality from Murray to see the second set out, including a breathtaking (especially when seen in slow-motion) sliced backhand lob. "that was Federer-esque" says John Lloyd on the red button.
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Bolelli hangs on in there, but Murray will serve for the second set next. Elena Baltacha, meanwhile, is out. The swirling wind won't have helped her today, with all the red dust causing her problems with her contact lenses.
* denotes NEXT to serve
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Murray 7-6 (7-3) 5-3 Bolelli*
Another blink-and-you miss it service hold for Murray, despite him making a right mess of a bouncing overhead. I'd blame the wind if I were him...
* denotes NEXT to serve
Another blink-and-you miss it service hold for Murray, despite him making a right mess of a bouncing overhead. I'd blame the wind if I were him...
* denotes NEXT to serve
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*Murray 7-6 (7-3) 4-3 Bolelli
Murray fizzes a backhand winner down the line on a replayed point to move 0-30 up on the Bolelli serve. The Scot continues attacking to get to 15-40 and mum Judy in the stands gives a couple of fist-pumps of encourgament, not that she really needs to. Bolelli double-faults on the next point, despite an appeal over the line-call, and he is broken again. Over on Court Six, King and Baltacha both held serve in their next two games, so the American is serving for the match at 4-6 6-1 5-4.
* denotes NEXT to serve
Murray fizzes a backhand winner down the line on a replayed point to move 0-30 up on the Bolelli serve. The Scot continues attacking to get to 15-40 and mum Judy in the stands gives a couple of fist-pumps of encourgament, not that she really needs to. Bolelli double-faults on the next point, despite an appeal over the line-call, and he is broken again. Over on Court Six, King and Baltacha both held serve in their next two games, so the American is serving for the match at 4-6 6-1 5-4.
* denotes NEXT to serve
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At 30-all, Bolelli has a sniff of another break here but Murray is solid enough when he needs to be, drawing mistakes out of his opponent. More good news for Elena Baltacha too, because she has HELD serve, for only the second time in the last 13 games and now trails King by 4-3 in the decider.
* denotes NEXT to serve
Second seed Kim Clijsters following her shock second-round exit at the hands of world number 114 Arantxa Rus: "I'm happy that I gave myself an opportunity. It's better to try than not to try. If I had said: 'It's better not to come', that would be the attitude of a real loser. I had practised well. Physically everything was fine. I was definitely ready."
John Lloyd on the Red Button: "It's a bit of an ugly match but somehow Murray's just got to get through it. There is no real rhythm to the match. One minute you think Murray's got control and then he hands it back. It's a strange match but conditions are brutally tough."
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Bolelli's best moments come when he follows a big shot to the net and goes for a winner - he manages that a couple of times here - to hold. Murray looks calm enough at the change-over though. As for Baltacha? Well she has broken back again, but still trails 2-4 in the decider with King because she has not managed to hold serve in the third set.
* denotes NEXT to serve
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Oh dear, where did that come from? Two double faults in a row leave Murray 0-40 down and, on the next point, Bolelli is in quickly to brilliantly put away a winner from an attempted Murray drop-shot. We are back on serve in the second set.
* denotes NEXT to serve
*Murray 7-6 (7-3) 2-1 Bolelli
Bolelli isn't going to chuck in the towel just yet, mind, and he gets off the mark in this set when Murray dumps a backhand into the net. Baltacha, meanwhile, has just put a forehand an inch wide and has been broken again to trail 4-1 in the decider. It's a long way back for her now.
* denotes NEXT to serve
Bolelli isn't going to chuck in the towel just yet, mind, and he gets off the mark in this set when Murray dumps a backhand into the net. Baltacha, meanwhile, has just put a forehand an inch wide and has been broken again to trail 4-1 in the decider. It's a long way back for her now.
* denotes NEXT to serve
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That's the sort of service game Murray needed, chucking in an ace as he hammers down serve after serve for a comfortable hold. Better for Bally too... She has got one break back in the decider with King, trailing 3-1 now. "That's a glimmer of hope for Elena," says John Lloyd on 5 live sports extra. "after winning the first set I expected her to put King under a bit more pressure."
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Bollelli's head has gone, at least temporarily, on the evidence of a terrible service game that has gifted Murray the advantage at the start of the second set. I bring bad news for Elena Baltacha fans, though, she has just been broken again by Vania King and the American has now won nine of the last 10 games to lead 4-6 6-1 3-0.
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Andrew Castle on the Red Button: "Fabulous in the end from Murray. It was a dirty set and it took a lot of work."
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It's taken Murray 71 minutes but he has got the first set in the bag, clinching it with a backhand winner down the line. Signs of some sloppiness from Bolelli towards the end of that tie-break too. Baltacha is still in big trouble, though, she has been broken again at the start of her deciding set with Vania King.
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Murray 6-6 (4-2) Bolelli
Better from Murray, much better, after kicking off the tie-break with an ill-advised and badly executed drop-shot. He hits back with a couple of mini-breaks to go 3-1 up but Bolelli's own, successful, drop-shot gets him back to 3-2 before Murray picks up another mini-break to lead at the change of ends... A nice fist-pump by the Scot too. "The wind is making this an exciting spectacle," says Jonathan Overend on Sports Extra. "Both players are coping with it pretty well."
Better from Murray, much better, after kicking off the tie-break with an ill-advised and badly executed drop-shot. He hits back with a couple of mini-breaks to go 3-1 up but Bolelli's own, successful, drop-shot gets him back to 3-2 before Murray picks up another mini-break to lead at the change of ends... A nice fist-pump by the Scot too. "The wind is making this an exciting spectacle," says Jonathan Overend on Sports Extra. "Both players are coping with it pretty well."
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The best rally of the match so far at 30-all sees Murray come out on top when Bolelli's mis-hit backhand flies out, and that gives the Scot two set points at 15-40. He'll have to wait to get it in the bag, mind, because Bolelli continues to attack and gets his reward - fighting back to deuce before two more big serves force the tie-break. Over on Court Six, Elena Baltacha and Vania King are into a deciding set because the American has just wrapped up the second set 6-1.
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Bolelli has converted two out of nine so far... Murray two from three.
Murray 6-5 Bolelli*
That's not the end of Murray's problems, though. He is not coping too well with the gusts of wind on Philippe Chatrier and he is soon back in trouble, thanks to our old friend 'unforced error'. Bolelli then comes in to put away a smash that gives him two more breaks at 15-40, and it takes some big Murray serves to dig himself out of a hole and hold. Just.
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That's not the end of Murray's problems, though. He is not coping too well with the gusts of wind on Philippe Chatrier and he is soon back in trouble, thanks to our old friend 'unforced error'. Bolelli then comes in to put away a smash that gives him two more breaks at 15-40, and it takes some big Murray serves to dig himself out of a hole and hold. Just.
* denotes NEXT to serve
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Murray steps things up and pounds a double-handed backhand winner down the line as he claws back to 30-all. Bolelli is still going for this, and can sense the kill, but he seems to be feeling the pressure when he dumps his next forehand into the net. This is a big chance for Murray, and he is not about to waste it, levelling at 5-5 when the Italian's sliced backhand drifts out. Bad news for Baltacha, though, she has been broken again and now trails 5-0 in the second set... they are heading for a decider on Court Six.
* denotes NEXT to serve
Murray 4-5 Bolelli*
First, the good news: Murray holds to love... but the bad news is that he will have to break the Bolelli serve next to stay in the second set. Baltacha is in trouble too, now trailing 3-0 in the second set.
* denotes NEXT to serve
First, the good news: Murray holds to love... but the bad news is that he will have to break the Bolelli serve next to stay in the second set. Baltacha is in trouble too, now trailing 3-0 in the second set.
* denotes NEXT to serve
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David Felgate on BBC Radio 5 sports extra thinks Andy Murray is having problems with his elbow, and he clearly isn't happy about something, whether it be a twinge, the swirling wind or, more likely, his frequent errors. A chance to break back comes and goes, and Bolelli is now within one game of taking the first set. Apologies for the seemingly random 'Brit up' or 'Brit down' arrows by the way. Give this page a manual refresh and everything should (hopefully) be in order. The bad news for Elena Baltacha is that she has just been broken to trail 0-2 at the start of the second set. She did come back from that scoreline to take the first set, though.
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Murray 3-4 Bolelli*
Better from Murray, who is trying to find his way into this match and sticking with his dogged defensive style, for now at least. Bolelli is still going for pretty much everything but he is making his fair share of errors too.
* denotes NEXT to serve
Better from Murray, who is trying to find his way into this match and sticking with his dogged defensive style, for now at least. Bolelli is still going for pretty much everything but he is making his fair share of errors too.
* denotes NEXT to serve
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No wobbles from Bolelli on serve this time, and he does not let Murray have a sniff. Better news from Court Six, where Elena Baltacha has taken the first set 6-4 against Vania King.
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Murray's serve is still not firing on all cylinders and another double fault puts him 30-40 down and in more trouble. Bolelli may be inconsistent but he has got some cracking shots up his sleeve and drags Murray all around the court on the next point before coming in to put away a forehand. This is shaping up to be a cracking match, just a shame then then nobody is on Philippe Chatrier to watch it - the stands are almost empty. Baltacha has seen two set points come and go, but she now has a third...
* denotes NEXT to serve
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After all that hard work, Bolelli gifts Murray an immediate break-back with a rash of unforced errors. That was a cheap game for the British number one and might explain why the Italian is the world number 126. Over on Court Six, Elena Baltacha is now serving for the first set at 5-4.
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Ouch. More problems for Murray on serve, and he faces three break points this time at 0-40. Bolelli hits long on the first, and plants a forehand in the tramline on the second, but what about the third? This time the Italian runs round his backhand but his cross-court forehand is an inch or two wide. That's deuce, but the world number 126 is soon back on the attack, slamming a big forehand winner down the line... and Murray's serve cannot save him this time - double fault, and a first break. Baltacha? She is faring rather better, saving two break points against King to lead 5-3.
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*Murray 1-1 Bolelli
And Bolelli is up and running too. Murray has a go at a couple of his serves but the Italian holds comfortably enough.
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And Bolelli is up and running too. Murray has a go at a couple of his serves but the Italian holds comfortably enough.
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Murray 1-0 Bolelli*
A spot of bother to start with for Andy Murray, who is grateful to see a big Bolelli forehand land out at 15-30, but still faces a break-point when the Italian crafts a brilliantly angled forehand winner - this boy likes to put a heck of a lot of spin on his shots. But a Murray ace saves him not once, but twice, and another big serve sees him hold, eventually. More good news for Brits on Court Six too, where Baltacha breaks to lead 3-2. More of the same please.
* denotes NEXT to serve
A spot of bother to start with for Andy Murray, who is grateful to see a big Bolelli forehand land out at 15-30, but still faces a break-point when the Italian crafts a brilliantly angled forehand winner - this boy likes to put a heck of a lot of spin on his shots. But a Murray ace saves him not once, but twice, and another big serve sees him hold, eventually. More good news for Brits on Court Six too, where Baltacha breaks to lead 3-2. More of the same please.
* denotes NEXT to serve
1232: Here we go then. Andy Murray to serve first...
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1222: They have swept and watered the Philippe Chatrier court, and here comes Andy Murray. As well as watching it on the red button and web console, you can also listen to his match with Simone Bolelli on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra on this website if you manually refresh this page now.
1219: I've only got a scoreboard to follow for the Baltacha-King match right now, and a glitch seemed to suggest they were both serving in the first game, but it was actually King, who held after a couple of deuces. Confused? Me too. As for Kim Clijsters, I suppose she paid for not practising enough on clay - she had not played on the surface all year before she came to Paris, and this was her first tournament since March because of a foot injury she picked up at a wedding. Not sure that explains the speed at which her game fell apart but we should give credit to Arantxa Rus too. A great display from her.
1212: Right then, here come the Brits. Andy Murray is next up on Philippe Chatrier, and your red button and web console too. Elena Baltacha has just started her second-round match with Vania King too.
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1207: This is getting to be a horrible habit for Kim Clijsters. She sees a backhand fly a yard long and Arantxa Rus moves to 5-1 in the decider. The Dutch player, ranked 114th in the world, has now won 10 of the last 11 games. "I cannot remember a great player like Kim disintegrating in such a fashion on such a big court," says Sam Smith. "Surely it has to be because of her lack of preparation."
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1202: Wimbledon, in 2002. That was the last time Kim Clijsters failed to reach the third round of a Grand Slam she had entered. That record is in BIG trouble now. Her first appearance at Roland Garros since 2006 is on the verge of ending with a disastrous defeat... unless she can claw her way back into this match. "Kim doesn't know if she is going to hit the ball in or out, that's the problem," says Sam Smith on the Red Button.
1200: Things have just got even worse for Kim Clijsters. Another double-fault means she now trails 4-1 in the decider. This is now a complete collapse.
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Hmmm, not sure that would work Martin... fingers crossed you don't need to try it.
1151: Arantxa Rus has never been beyond the second round at Roland Garros before, but she is growing in confidence here, fighting back from 0-40 to hold serve at the start of the decider, then forcing two break points herself. Clijsters saves one with a big serve but follows that up with a double fault... which means Rus is ahead at 2-1 in the third set, and leads for the first time in this match. Shall I get my 'shock' graphic ready then?
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1138: Ouch. Kim Clijsters whacks a forehand into the tramline and Rus takes the second set 7-5. If you are in and around Roland Garros and you spot the Belgian's game, then please return it to her... she has lost her way completely in the last few minutes. We are heading for a decider.
1134: Er, what has happened to Kim Clijsters? A double-fault sees Arantxa Rus move 6-5 up and the 20-year-old from the Netherlands has now won four games in a row. Someone tell Andy Murray to put his tracksuit back on.
1130: Rob-Sod is now two sets up against Albert Ramos, and cruising, but Kim is still struggling to close her match out... she's just seen another match-point come and go, and Rus eventually held. She was 5-2 down, but it is now 5-5. "Clijsters is not just making errors, she's getting really tense," says Sam Smith on the Red Button.
1126: Well, well, well. Kim had a match-point on the Rus serve but saw a big forehand land just out and then proceeded to have a shocker of a game when she tried to serve the match out. Something is not quite right with her today. Anyway, we are back on serve (with Rus) at 4-5 in the second set. So maybe Elena Baltacha will be out on court first after all, because Yanina Wickmayer is now 6-4 3-0 up.
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1115: "Kim Clijsters will be satisfied with her performance today," says Sam Smith on the BBC Red Button as the Belgian moves 5-2 up in the second set and within a game of a place in round three. "She will be annoyed with the number of mistakes she has made but she is not the sort of person who dwells on them." Just a reminder that Andy Murray is coming up NEXT once this one is done and dusted...
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1109: Hang about... Arantxa Rus isn't ready to throw in the towel just yet. She produces her best tennis yet to break back and we are back on serve in the second set. Over on Court Six, Yanina Wickmayer took the first set 6-4 against Ayumi Morita and, elsewhere, Polish 12th seed Agnieszka Radwanska is a set up on India's Sania Mirza.
1104: No bagels on Phillipe Chatrier just yet... Arantxa Rus stops a five-game losing streak to hold with an ace after recovering from 15-40 down, but Kim Clijsters still leads 6-3 3-1. I bring more news of Robin Soderling too. He is a set up on Albert Ramos, remember, and has got another break to lead 3-2 in set two.
1100: Elena Baltacha also has a column with BBC Sport this summer, so shall we find out how she's feeling ahead of her second-round match with America's Vania King? "She had a big win against seeded player Dominika Cibulkova in the first round and she will be feeling good about her game," says Bally. "I never take opponents for granted and I need to be ready to deliver the best I can against her. I have taken some big steps forward on clay in the last few weeks. Now, against King, I have got to make that count."
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1055: Clijsters breaks again, and now leads 3-0 in the second set - Murray, who is probably in the locker room now, might be advised to start doing some stretches. By the way, Elena Baltacha might have a slightly longer wait before she gets on Court Six. Yanina Wickmayer and Ayumi Morita are all-square at 4-4 in the first set.
BBC Sport's Piers Newbery at Roland Garros: "Clijsters takes the 1st set on a blowy and very chilly Chatrier, grey skies overhead. Murray in 30-40mins maybe?"
1050: Sam Smith, commentating on the BBC red button, thinks Arantxa Vos has to be more aggressive to have any chance against Clijsters and the Dutch player does seem to be hesitant when she gets in good positions. At 0-30 on the Kim serve in the first game of the second set, she has a sniff of a break but makes a right mess of things, losing the next four points with a rash of unforced errors. Clijsters is hardly on the top of her game, but she is in control here.
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1044: Back to the tennis, and Rob-Sod takes the first set 6-3 against Albert Ramos. Clijsters has just done the same against Arantxa Rus, by the same scoreline too.
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In the interests of research, I googled Zoom ice lollies, and Judy is only right if we are talking a certain flavour. If you are wondering about Kim's hair, then in my limited hairdressing vocab, I'd describe it as 'wavy'.
1037: If you want to know how Andy Murray is feeling ahead of his second-round match, then his exclusive BBC Sport column is probably a good place to start. What does he think about today's opponent Simone Bolelli, then? "He's tough - I've played him a couple of times and had a close match with him on clay a couple of years ago in Madrid. He hasn't been so playing well the last year-and-a-half or so but he's a very talented guy and similar to Eric Prodon."
1033: The good news is that blue sky has broke through the cloud smothering Paris. Arantxa Rus is giving Clijsters more of a match now too, and these two are trading some fierce rallies. Rus, who I should tell you is wearing a peach/pink/green combo (a bit like those old 'Twister' ice-creams) has got a break back now too. Kim leads 4-2 though, as does Rob-Sod.1025: There are other matches going on later today, of course, apart from our brave British boys and girls. Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova are among those in action, so I'm not exaggerating when I say plenty to look forward to. As for what's happening now? Clijsters is sitting pretty (in pink) at 3-1 up and Robin Sodering (who I can't see but is unlikely to be in pink) is already a break up on Spain's Albert 'Vamos' Ramos.
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1018: Kim Clijsters, decked out in shocking pink, has started like a train - it's just a pity there is no-one there to see it, really. Arantxa Rus was broken in her first game and is just trying to find her feet at the moment... she needs to do that quickly, mind because Kim is already into her stride.
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Blimey, and there was me settling for a Watson win today...
1012: Right, the first matches are under way around the courts at Roland Garros. All I need now is some chat from you lot. I'm Chris Bevan, and you can tweet me at @chrisbevan_bbc using the hashtag #BBCTennis please. Or feel free to text me via 81111 (UK) instead.
1010: You will also be able to watch Heather Watson's match against Kaia Kanepi (around 1430 BST) but because Elena Baltacha's match against Vania King is expected to start around the same time as Murray's, you will have to rely on me for updates on that one. Happy? I hope so.
1006: Andy Murray is second on Philippe Chatrier, and you can of course watch his match against Italy's Simone Bolelli on the red button and the video console atop this page. First up for you lucky people, though, is Kim Clijsters versus Arantxa Rus. Those two are on court now and warming up - I can tell you that it's a bit cloudy in Paris at the moment, but that doesn't matter as long as the rain stays away.
1000: I did say 'almost'. It was 1984, rather than the 17th century, but it is still an awfully long time since John Lloyd, Jo Durie and Anne Hobbs trod the red clay in Paris. Is it asking too much, then, for Murray, Baltacha and Watson to all reach round three? I guess we will find out soon enough...
0954: Yep, forget Athos, Porthos, and Aramis... today, our three musketeers are Andy Murray, Elena Baltacha and Heather Watson. All of them will be duelling in the second round of the French Open during the next few hours - and, if you are wondering why I am so excited, we almost have to go back as far as the days of D'Artagnan for the last time we had three Brits at this stage in the singles at Roland Garros.
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