French Open: Radek Stepanek pushes Andy Murray to the limit in Roland Garros shoot-out

The world No 2 recovered to win a match from two sets down for the eighth time in his career, beating 37-year-old qualifier Stepanek 3-6 3-6 6-0 6-3 7-5, and keeping his hopes of a first French Open title alive.

Murray, whose last first-round exit at a grand slam was more than eight years ago, lost the first two sets when the match began on Monday but won the third and led 4-2 in the fourth when darkness brought an end to play.

He polished that set off with ease, but the fifth brought the Scot to the brink of defeat, with Stepanek two points away from victory at one point.

Murray held firm, however, and then took advantage of the first drop in his opponent’s level to clinch victory after three hours and 41 minutes.

The 29-year-old, who now plays Frenchman Mathias Bourgue, paid tribute to Stepanek, saying: “It’s unbelievable what he’s doing.

“He had an extremely bad injury last year and still at 37 coming out and fighting like that, playing that way, it’s unbelievable. I don’t expect to be doing that myself at that age. I’m just glad I managed to get through.

“He’s always been extremely difficult to play. I wasn’t able to dictate many of the points, I wasn’t in a great rhythm, and that’s credit to him and the way that he played.”

The Czech, looking to become the oldest man to win a grand slam singles match since Jimmy Connors at the US Open in 1992, played brilliantly in the first two sets on Monday.

In the final set, Stepanek held for 5-4, hanging on superbly, and Murray had to serve to stay in the tournament. The Czech threw everything at his opponent but deuce was as close as he got.

The effort of that exchange appeared to affect Stepanek in his next service game, as he buckled and Murray broke, leaving the Scot serving for the match. Murray double-faulted on his first match point, but on his second Stepanek netted a volley and a relieved Murray held his arms in the air.

Aljaz Bedene recovered from a poor start to defeat Gerald Melzer and reach the second round for the first time. The British No 2 began the match with two double faults and lost the first eight points but thereafter was the better player and came through 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.

Bedene has been struggling for confidence amid the stress of his battle to compete for Britain in the Davis Cup.

The Slovenia-born player should learn in the next week or two whether there is any chance of another appeal and he revealed the uncertainty has taken such a toll on him that it has translated into physical pain.

Title favourite Novak Djokovic dropped just six games in making his way through to the second round of the French Open.

The world No 1 followed Andy Murray onto Court Philippe Chatrier but there was none of the drama of the Scot’s five-set win over Radek Stepanek as Djokovic eased to a 6-4 6-1 6-1 victory against Lu Yen-hsun. Next up for the Serbian is a clash with Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis, who defeated Marsel Ilhan 6-3 6-4 6-0.

Rafael Nadal kick-started his drive for a 10th French Open title by demolishing big-serving Australian Sam Groth in straight sets at Roland Garros.

Fourth seed Nadal prevailed 6-1 6-1 6-1 to book a second-round meeting with either Facundo Bagnis or Kenny De Schepper.

Only Roger Federer in 2009 and Stan Wawrinka last year have broken Nadal’s stunning string of Roland Garros triumphs dating back to 2005.