Murray One Set From Defeat Against Stepanek

No. 2 seed Andy Murray is rallying from a slow start to his opening round at Roland Garros against qualifier Radek Stepanek, but will have to wait until Tuesday to finish the match. Play on Monday was called off due to darkness with Stepanek leading 6-3, 6-3, 0-6, 2-4.

The oldest player in the draw at age 37, Stepanek belied his years in the first two sets of the match with crafty hitting and timely trips to the net that put Murray out of his comfort zone, winning both sets by a 6-3 scoreline. The British player rebounded strongly by recording a 6-0 shutout third set and grabbing an early break of serve to start the fourth set.

Should Stepanek win, it would be his first victory over a Top 5 player since defeating Murray at the ATP World Tour 500 event in London in June 2014. 

Murray last came back from two sets down in a Grand Slam at last year’s US Open, where he defeated Adrian Mannarino in the second round. He hasn’t lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam since the 2008 Australian Open and at Roland Garros since 2006. Murray has won his past 31 first-round matches at Grand Slams. 

Two other men’s matches, including No. 29 seed Lucas Rouille against Julien Benneteau and No. 15 seed John Isner versus John Millman, were also suspended due to darkness. Both of those matches are scheduled to resume on Tuesday.