Andy Murray v Michaël Llodra - as it happened

Andy Murray won 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 to move into the fourth round of the Australian Open
Andy Murray
Do it for Great Britain. Or else. Photograph: Paul Crock/AFP/Getty Images

Morning. Baddiel and Skinner said it best: we still believe. We have to with Andy Murray, or else there's no point any more, especially not at this hour. As each grand slam comes and goes, it gets harder and harder to keep the faith that he'll finally win one, but we must; it's the national identity. There are several stages in an Andy Murray grand slam adventure. It starts out with optimism, which only grows as he trundles through the rounds, eventually reaching the semi-final or final. Once he's there, the optimism dissipates, to be replaced by a knowing resignation that he will be defeated by one of three players who are currently redefining what it means to be at the top of this sport. During that match, it's desperation; afterwards it's depression, before we lash out, calling Murray a bottle-job despite being the fourth-best at what he does in the world. How many of his critics can say that without being laughed out of the room?

We are, of course, in the first stage at the moment, optimism with a dash of doubt - or perhaps let's just call it reality - floating around in the background. Murray has progressed relatively serenely through the first two rounds, save for a first-set wobble against Ryan Harrison in his first match. He came back to win that in four sets and afterwards admitted to being nervous, before seeing off Edouard Roger-Vasselin. It's another Frenchman for him today, the wacky Michael Llodra (it appears every mention of him must be prefaced by wacky). The 31-year-old is a serve-and-volley left-hander - awkward, but nothing that should present too much of a problem for Murray. Indeed he has won his last 12 grand slam matches against French opponents. Overall it is 13-3 in his favour. Allez!

Murray has had something of a love-hate relationship with the Australian Open these last few years. Along with the US Open it is the closest he has come to winning a slam, the Scot having made the final in the last two years. But those have been unhappy experiences. First there were tears after a thrashing by Roger Federer in 2010 and then he found himself helpless against Novak Djokovic's surgically neat hitting from the back of the court. Forget about us believing; all that matters is that Murray does too.

The players are due on court at:
8am GMT.

On court right now, Gael Monfils is two sets down to Mikhail Kukushkin. They're level in the third. The winner of this match will play Murray if he goes through.

It's Saturday morning. So.

Kukushkin is now serving for the match at 5-4 after breaking Monfils. The fourth round beckons. Monfils is too inconsistent, even during isolated points.

Monfils has broken back! Kukushkin wastes the chance to seal the match. It's 5-5.

I hear the players are out on court. One problem: Eurosport are showing the Monfils-Kukushkin game. There's the potential for high farce here.

If they don't change it to Murray in time, I'm going to listen to it on the radio. It's too early for Eurosport to be testing me like this.

Right! They're starting! And I'm listening to it on the radio. Thank you, my Eurosport! Llodra's serving first apparently.

First set: Murray 0-1 Llodra* (*denotes server): I don't deserve this on a Saturday morning. I was up at 6am. For those of you telling me it's on Eurosport 2, we don't have that in here. Five Live it is for the time being. Murray quickly earns two break points, but Llodra saves them both, the second with an ace. Llodra then has to salvage another break point - it sounds like a good start from Murray here, though that's an educated guess. A lob from Murray then lands long, and Llodra holds.

First set: Murray* 1-1 Llodra: If you spot a mushroom cloud in the Kings Cross area, that's just from the smoke coming out of my ears. Eurosport have offered a quick split-screen glimpse of the Murray game, but they're just teasing, the wretches. Murray holds to love.

First set: Murray 2-1 Llodra*: A terrific passing shot from Murray, I hear. Probably the best one he's ever hit WHY WON'T YOU PUT THE GAME ON EUROSPORT and Llodra is struggling on his serve. Murray's quickly 0-30 up PUT THE GAME ON EUROSPORT and then Llodra puts a volley into the net to give the Scot three break points DON'T MAKE ME COME DOWN THERE EUROSPORT I DON'T CARE IF IT'S ON EUROSPORT 2 WE DON'T HAVE EUROSPORT 2 AS FAR AS I CAN SEE AND I WAS UP AT 6AM FOR THIS, NEED I REMIND YOU. Ahem. Murray fires the second break point down the line, and Llodra has no reply.

First set: Murray* 3-1 Llodra: Llodra tries a tweener, but it's into the net. He's so wacky. Murray offers up a chance for Llodra to break back with a double fault, but a timely ace rescues the situation. An ace from Murray closes out the game – this one doesn't look to be a testing examination for him. I say look. I mean sound. "I share your pain, watching on Swedish Eurosport who are also showing Monfils the diva fool everyone," says Simon Thorley.

First set: Murray 3-2 Llodra*: I'm now watching the match, but not on Eurosport. Here we go. All is well in the world. I'm there in time to see Murray, scampering across the baseline, whip a backhand into the net. Llodra then gets away with one, as Murray cracks a forehand past him, only for it to drop inches wide.

First set: Murray* 4-2 Llodra: Murray opens up with a double-fault. That's his third already; it probably won't matter today, but he can't afford too many of those as the tournament progresses. As Llodra demonstrates with a neat volley to open up a 0-30 lead. Murray gets it back to 30-all, but then slices a backhand into the net to hand Llodra his second break point. Murray pounds down a strong serve though, Llodra, stretching, dropping his return weakly into the net. What follows is absolutely magnificent. Llodra slices a flukey shot down the line, and it loops past Murray, who has to race back to the baseline to retrieve the ball. When he gets there, he just turns and whacks a forehand straight past Llodra. Brilliant, and it's enough for Murray to wrap up the game. "Is there any tv coverage of this match?" parps Iain Hurst. "Perhaps Eurosport are showing it."

First set: Murray 4-3 Llodra*: Absolutely dreadful from Llodra at 15-15. He brings Murray to net with a so-so drop-shot, but having got him there, he then produces a bizarre shot, tentatively prodding at it from the back of the court and just stabbing the ball miles wide. I don't think even he knew what he was trying to do there. Llodra recovers to take a 40-30 lead though, and then sends a serve out wide which Murray can only put it into the net.

First set: Murray* 5-3 Llodra: Llodra races into the net to put pressure on Murray, who sends two backhands well wide at the start of the game. Murray's in a spot of bother at 0-30 down, and though he wins the next point, more wayward hitting gives Llodra yet another opportunity to break. This is really sloppy. Excellent serving from Murray brings it back to deuce however. The pair then engage in some shenanigans at the net and remarkably Llodra, who can't resist the cute drop-shots, comes out on top to earn a third break point. Maybe this time? Maybe? No. Ace. Llodra then sends two returns into the net, and now has to serve to stay in the set. "This Eurosport fiasco looks like it could be driving you to a Scott Murray Moment," says Ben Monk.

First set: Murray 5-4 Llodra*: Llodra has a good eye for the challenge it seems. He's already won two. He's not too bad at the net either, and somehow manages to volley a Murray backhand that looked certain to be a winner back into the open court to take a 30-15 lead. Encouraged by that, he wins the next two points - and with it, the game - by coming into net, wrapping it up with a smash after Murray had looped a defensive shot back at him. Llodra's hanging in there, but now he has to break Murray. "'Llodra tries a tweener...he's so wacky'?" Mac Millings quotes back at me. "I don't get it. He tried hitting the ball with a 10-12 year old instead of a raquet? That IS pretty strange."

Murray wins the first set 6-4: A pinpoint backhand and an ace from Murray bring up three set points, but what follows is in keeping with this mixed first set. He wastes the first two opportunities, and then, when he should seal it, cracks an overhead backhand volley into the net. That's a bad miss. He recovers quickly though, earning another set point, and strong hitting from Murray gives him the chance to pick Llodra off with a trademark backhand into the left corner.

Second set: Murray 6-4, 1-0 Llodra*: What a way to start the second set from Murray. At 15-30, he casually whips a two-handed backhand from left to right, Llodra nowhere near it. Two break points, and Murray only needs one, sealing the game with his ninth backhand winner. Now relax.

Second set: Murray* 6-4, 2-0 Llodra: Murray's really settling into his groove now, taking a 30-0 lead with a beautifully disguised drop-shot. Llodra tries to hit back with one of his own, but Murray's speed wins him the point. He gets to the net, and then just dinks a forehand from right to left past Llodra for 40-0. He consolidates the break with an ace. It's looking like a forlorn task for Llodra now.

Second set: Murray 6-4, 2-1 Llodra*: Murray's now showing why he's the world No4. At 30-0, Llodra drops a serve too short, so Murray steps in and clips a backhand winner into the left corner. Still, Llodra can still do damage at the net and goes 40-15 up with a lovely volley. Murray brings it back to 40-30, but a fierce serve from Llodra is enough for him to get on the scoreboard. With that, he sprints off and calls for the trainer. It looks like he's having trouble with his knee.

Llodra will take a medical time-out. He gets three minutes for it.

Second set: Murray* 6-4, 3-1 Llodra: Llodra returns with his knee taped up. But it may need more than that to stem the tide. Murray stoops low, and goes cross-court with a backhand, flicking it past Llodra for 30-0. He rarely misses those. A powerful forehand is then too much for Llodra to reach, and then Murray slams a forehand down the line to hold to love.

Second set: Murray 6-4, 3-2 Llodra*: "Andy!" cries Andy as he relinquishes a 0-30 lead, hitting a backhand into the net. Llodra then takes a 40-30 lead, but is once again given a demonstration of the Murray speed as he tries another drop-shot and then sees the ball fly straight back past him. It's going to take more than that. Something like this then, a super backhand volley that even Murray has to applaud. There's then a very amusing moment at the net, as Murray races forward and slaps a backhand straight into Llodra's back, albeit unintentionally. Murray apologises, the pair chuckle. It's not the Frenchman's day, though he does at least cling on to hold as Murray's backhand goes wide.

Second set: Murray* 6-4, 4-2 Llodra: If Murray wins this match, he will play Kazakhstan's Kukushkin in the fourth round. The Kazakh has beaten Gael Monfils in five sets. That sounded like a real thriller and is also something of an upset.

Second set: Murray 6-4, 5-2 Llodra*: At long last, this match is on Eurosport UK. New channel, same old story though, Murray pushing Llodra to the very limit. A volley from Llodra goes long to give Murray a break point, and when the Frenchman comes into the net with little conviction, it's little surprise that the cross-court backhand flashes past him. Murray will now serve for the second set.

Murray wins the second set 6-2 and leads 2-0 in sets: This has been really entertaining stuff. At 30-0, Llodra pulls out the drop-shot again. It drops dead almost right at the net, but Murray somehow pushes it back over, forcing Llodra to go round the net and win the point. More exhibition tennis follows and again Llodra comes out on top to bring it back to 30-all. An ace from Murray then brings up set point, which he is unable to take. Which is the cue for more ridiculous tennis - and this time it's Murray who wins the battle at the net after a preposterous rally. And it just keeps on coming! Murray lobs Llodra at the net, and the Frenchman races back - isn't he meant to be injured - and fires the ball through his legs and straight at Murray who pushes a forehand volley back over the net, tumbling over as he does so. It's enough to seal the set. Murray allows himself the briefest of smiles, and well he might.

Third set: Murray 6-4, 6-2, 1-0 Llodra*: Llodra knows the game is up, and has decided to amuse the crowd with an array of drop-shots. A dangerous ploy at 15-30, but it works here. He might as well, because he can't outhit Murray and an error from the baseline gives the Scot a break point. A double-fault hands Murray the game and that should be decisive.

Third set: Murray* 6-4, 6-2, 2-0 Llodra: I now have company in the office, with Paolo Bandini and Ian McCourt arriving at last. I feel like a real human being again. The main talk is about how hot it is in here: maybe the idea is to recreate the Australian Open experience for us. It's shorts weather. Llodra drifts a sliced backhand long, and Murray holds to 30.

Third set: Murray 6-4, 6-2, 3-0 Llodra*: Llodra has never come back from two sets down. He's 31. It's not going to change here. His spirit has been sapped by the quality of Murray's play now. Murray's cruising and sends a forehand down the line to earn two more break points. Llodra responds with a double-fault. Oh dear.

Third set: Murray* 6-4, 6-2, 4-0 Llodra: Suffice to say, Murray is going to face tougher tests than this. Llodra can't even get his drop-shots over the net any more, a sign of his increasing fatigue. As much as Llodra tries to turn this into an exhibition, Murray has his game face on and isn't about to humour him.

Third set: Murray 6-4, 6-2, 5-0 Llodra*: Murray begins with a superbly struck forehand past Llodra, his tactics at the net no longer bringing him any joy whatsoever. He gifts Murray three break points with a horrible forehand volley that goes dismally wide. He saves the first two, but on the third his drop-shot isn't good enough. Murray lobs him, Llodra ambles back, takes a swipe at the ball, misses it, tries again, sends the ball through his legs - and into the net. Murray will serve for the match.

Murray wins 6-4, 6-2, 6-0: Llodra's main tactic now appears to be to wave his hands about at the net in a bid to put Murray off. HE'S SO WACKY LOL! If the game was any closer, Murray would be bothered, but it's not, so he isn't. It doesn't take long for Murray to earn two match points, and he takes the first with an effortless lob - a perfect response after Llodra had mimicked him during the point. The pair embrace at the net - that's the closest they've been.

Murray will now face Kukushkin in the fourth round. He has to be confident about winning that game. He got better as the match went on after a mixed first set. He was never in any real trouble at all and wasn't broken once. He's going to face tougher opponents than Llodra though. Thanks for reading. Bye.

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