Live Commentary: Andy Murray vs. Joao Sousa - as it happened

Andy Murray has earned his place in the third round of the French Open after grinding out a win against Joao Sousa.

The third seed looked on course for a routine win when he eased to the opening set but Sousa, the world number 44, improved in the second to level the match.

However, Murray regained the momentum by taking the third set before eventually confirming a 6-2 4-6 6-4 6-1 win to set up a last-32 clash with Nick Kyrgios.

Read below to see how the action unfolded at Roland Garros.

5.39pmThat will be all from Sports Mole for this match. Thank you for joining us and we hope to see you again later in the tournament. Goodbye for now.

5.38pmIt's taken him over two-and-a-half hours but Andy Murray has finally booked his place in the third round of the French open with a four-set win over Joao Sousa. The third seed is going to have to improve his consistency against Nick Kyrgios on Saturday but he will be satisfied to overcome a game opponent who relished playing without pressure on Philippe Chatrier.

Murray 6-2 4-6 6-4 6-1 SousaMATCH! After he falls 30-0 down, the crowd attempt to encourage a deflated Sousa but although he halves the deficit, he finds the net with a volley after Murray catches him coming in. The next exchange is a lengthy one, but Murray outlasts his opponent to finally seal the win.

Murray 6-2 4-6 6-4 5-1* SousaAfter Murray brings up three game points with a one-two off his serve, there are signs that Sousa has accepted his fate. He remains in the game due to a bit of showmanship from Murray, but a big first serve gets the job done and the third seed is one game away from the last 32.

Murray *6-2 4-6 6-4 4-1 SousaAfter all that he has provided this match, it would have been harsh for Sousa to end the match on the receiving end of a bagel set, but that's not going to happen now. He plays a solid game to halt Murray's momentum, but it's going to take much more to get him back into this contest.

Murray 6-2 4-6 6-4 4-0* SousaThere's an ease in which Murray is playing his tennis now. Why couldn't this have come sooner? He takes advantage of the ball being left in the middle of the court to put away two winners on the way to a 4-0 advantage.

Murray *6-2 4-6 6-4 3-0 SousaBREAK! I think that Murray has had enough of messing about now. He drills a backhand winner into the corner to bring up two break points, and although Sousa saves the first, he can't hold off Murray on the second who drives a backhand into the open court to seal the double break.

Murray 6-2 4-6 6-4 2-0* SousaThe Murray of the first set is on show now and that only spells bad news for Sousa. He holds to 15 with minimal fuss and he looks well on course for victory now.

Murray *6-2 4-6 6-4 1-0 SousaBREAK! Murray knows that he could break the spirit of his opponent if he can break at the start of the fourth, and after getting to 30-30, he strikes to leave Sousa looking for answers at the back of the court. If he can hold in the next game, it's going to be a long back for the Portuguese.

Murray 6-2 4-6 6-4* SousaSET! This is Murray's chance to put a bit of daylight between himself and his opponent and he doesn't waste it. He holds to love with a solid serve out wide and for the time being at least, he can begin to breathe a little easier. Don't write Sousa off just yet though.

Murray *6-2 4-6 5-4 SousaSousa shows little nerves in reaching 30-0 but a strong return from Murray is enough to force the Portuguese to net. He's helpless when Murray executes the deftest of drop shots for 30-30 before a third shot finds the net when Murray increases the pressure. However, the Scot can't take his chance and three points in a row from his opponent mean that he must serve for the third set.

Murray 6-2 4-6 5-3* SousaThe spring is back in Murray's step and a routine forehand put-away gives him a 30-0 lead. A booming return from Sousa halves the deficit but Murray remains composed and takes the game to 15.

Murray *6-2 4-6 4-3 SousaBREAK! Murray has struggled to read the Sousa match throughout this contest but at 30-0 down, he picks one and puts it away. Sousa then throws in a double fault before Murray gets the better of the next exchange to earn a break point. He gets a look at a second serve and that's enough for him to set the wheels in motion to over-power his opponent. That could be a huge moment in this match.

Murray 6-2 4-6 3-3* SousaBetter from Murray, who fires down a third ace on the way to a love hold.

Murray *6-2 4-6 2-3 SousaMurray smashes his way to the first point but Sousa holds his nerve to move to two game points. However, two unforced errors give Murray an opening at deuce but he can't take advantage. This is turning into a very competitive contest, which wasn't expected by anyone.

Murray 6-2 4-6 2-2* SousaMurray misses an easy forehand for a 30-0 lead and he soon finds himself back on the back as Sousa brings up a break point. The Portuguese is given a look at a second serve but he can only send a forehand long of the baseline. That could be massive. Murray receives a second time violation warning after waiting for highlights of the previous shot to finish on the big screen and he makes his point known. He comes through with the game but it will be worth keeping an eye on how the umpire continues with this. Murray's not doing anything wrong.

Murray *6-2 4-6 1-2 SousaSousa is fully engaged in this battle and a superbly-executed drop shot confirms that as Murray watches on. The world number 44 comes through with a love hold, which is sealed with an ace.

Murray 6-2 4-6 1-1* SousaThis is as inconsistent as Murray has performed since the start of the clay-court season. He's coasting at 40-15 but two mistakes allow Sousa to get back to deuce. The Portuguese is unlucky not to catch the line with a heavy slice and Murray takes advantage of his good fortune to take the game.

Murray *6-2 4-6 0-1 SousaSousa looks pumped and he has every reason to be. He races through the opening game of the third set to leave Murray needing an immediate response. He's in a real fight here.

Murray 6-2 4-6* SousaSET! The pendulum swings backs in Sousa's favour when Murray makes a couple of mistakes to allow the Portuguese to bring up two break points and the world number 44 takes his chance by catching the line with a smash to win his first ever set off Murray in their sixth match. Game on!

Murray *6-2 4-5 SousaBREAK! Murray lets out his frustration in the best possible way, hitting his way to a 0-30 advantage as he threatens to hit straight back. Sousa replies with a big first serve while he is fortunate to get to get to 30-30 after Murray misses with a shot down the line. However, Murray's hitting is relentless in this game and we are back in serve as Sousa struggles to handle Murray's baseline game.

Murray 6-2 3-5* SousaBREAK! After losing the opening two points, Murray is handed a time violation warning by the umpire and that distraction contributes to Murray losing the next point to fall 0-40 behind. A break of serve is complete when Sousa takes control of the following rally and he will now serve for the second set.

Murray *6-2 3-4 SousaFor the first time in a while, Murray gets into a Sousa service game but at 40-30, the Portuguese is ruthless in dealing with a testing smash in the middle part of the court and he regains his lead in the set.

Murray 6-2 3-3* SousaMuch better from Murray, who fires a thunderous backhand winner down the line before drilling a huge serve out wide to move to 30-0. That's followed by an ace down the middle before a love hold is complete when Sousa miscues a return into the stands.

Murray *6-2 2-3 SousaI didn't see this coming after the first set. Sousa holds to love for a second time in succession and Murray is growing a little frustrated with himself. He needs to find a way of discouraging Sousa because his confidence is growing.

Murray 6-2 2-2* SousaAt 15-15, Sousa makes his move to try to get to the net but Murray catches the line to draw a mistake out of his opponent. It's the difference between Murray winning the game and potentially being put under pressure and he comes through with a hold to 30.

Murray *6-2 1-2 SousaSousa continues his resurgence with a confident hold to love. He's leaving nothing to chance when the ball is fired in short and the uncompromising approach looks his best chance of getting anything out of this encounter.

Murray 6-2 1-1* SousaMurray comes through with a hold to 30 but there are signs are Sousa is finding his feet. He's playing much more aggressively and it's giving Murray plenty to think about.

Murray *6-2 0-1 SousaIt's imperative that Sousa avoids falling an early break of serve behind in this second set and when he drops to 0-30, it looks as though that could be the case. However, out of nowhere, he records four points in a row, mainly down to Murray mistakes, and he should feel a lot more comfortable after that.

Murray 6-2* SousaSET! Murray wastes little time in bringing up two set points, and although Sousa shows plenty of fight in attempting to remain in the set, he eventually makes a mistake to gift the opener to the third seed.

Murray *5-2 SousaBREAK! Sousa is being forced to scramble all over the Philippe Chatrier court just to stay in this set and he produces a bit of magic to pass Murray with a cross-court backhand. He can't prevent a second break though, and Murray forces the error at the net to move to within one game of the set.

Murray 4-2* SousaSousa wins his first point of the match on the Murray serve but the Scot remains assured behind his own delivery and comes through another game with ease. If Murray serves well this afternoon, he's not going to get beaten.

Murray *3-2 SousaMurray looks eager to capture a second break and he is all over Sousa at the net to force a 15-30 advantage. However, Sousa puts together two well-constructed points to move within touching distance of the game but a double fault keeps Murray in it. It's not for long though, and Sousa gets another hold on the board.

Murray 3-1* SousaSousa put up more of a fight in that service game but the end result was the same. Another hold to love and he remains a break ahead.

Murray *2-1 SousaMurray looks on course for a second break when taking Sousa to 30-30, but the Portuguese replies superbly with an attacking lob and inside-out forehand. That should steady any lingering nerves that he might have had.

Murray 2-0* SousaThe opening game involved 20 points, but the second took just four. Murray breezes to a love hold and he has set down a marker for this match.

Murray *1-0 SousaBREAK! After the opening two matches are shared, the pair become embroiled in a 26-shot rally, which Murray wins after Sousa dumps a shot into the net. The Portuguese does the same on the next point, handing Murray two chances to steal an early march in this set. Sousa saves them both, but the game turns in a mini-marathon with Sousa saving four break points and Murray saving two game points. Murray eventually prevails on his fifth break point, drilling a backhand down the line to break the resilience of his opponent.

3.03pmRight then, the two players are ready to get started. It will be Sousa to serve first.

3.02pmMurray, a two-time major winner, holds a 5-0 record over his Portuguese opponent, but it should be noted that all of their previous meetings have come on a hard court. That said, Sousa is yet to take a set off Murray and in their last match in Dubai, he was able to register just the two games. It's not the kind of form that is going to give him any confidence heading into today's match.

2.59pmMurray faces the daunting prospect of having to play Nick Kyrgios, John Isner, David Ferrer and either of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal if he is to reach the final, but first of all, he must overcome the challenge of world number 44 Joao Sousa. With the players having just made their way onto Philippe Chatrier, we are about five minutes away from this match getting started.

2.57pmFor the first time in his career, Murray is carrying a bit of expectation at Roland Garros after preparing for the tournament with wins in Munich and Madrid. The British number one had waited 10 years to win a trophy on clay and like buses, two came at once. That said, he's got a long, long way to go before he can be considered favourite for the title.

2.53pmHello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match between Andy Murray and Joao Sousa in the second round of the French Open.

Live Commentary: Andy Murray vs. Joao Sousa - as it happened

People mentioned in this article :