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Andy Murray finally beat 37-year-old qualifier Radek Stepanek in five sets to avoid a shock first-round defeat at the French Open in Paris.

The British world number two trailed two sets to one when play was suspended on Monday because of bad light.

Murray, 29, won the fourth set but was pushed hard by his Czech opponent before winning the deciding set to clinch a 3-6 3-6 6-0 6-3 7-5 victory.

British number two Aljaz Bedene reached the second round for the first time.

He began his match against Austrian qualifier Gerald Melzer with two double faults and lost the first eight points, but he was the better player after that and came through 4-6 6-3 6-4 6-4.

With Kyle Edmund also winning, there are three British men in the second round at Roland Garros for the first time since 1975.
The last time Murray lost in the first round of a Grand Slam was in 2008.

A three-time French Open semi-finalist, he has now come from two sets down to win nine times in Grand Slam matches.

Murray will next face French wildcard Mathias Bourgue, who is ranked 164 in the world, in the third match on Philippe Chatrier Court today.

Andy Murray, 3-1, 3-2 Skybet 7/2.

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