Live Commentary: Andy Murray vs. Nick Kyrgios - as it happened

Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's live coverage of the match between Andy Murray and Nick Kyrgios in the third round of the French Open.

When the draw was made for Roland Garros, all of the attention surrounded the possible meeting between Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the last eight. It goes without saying that it's a immensely tough draw for both, but little was made of the severity of Andy Murray's draw, even though today's match with Nick Kyrgios proves that he hasn't got the rub of the green himself.

We aren't making a direct comparison between Djokovic and Nadal to Kyrgios, but Murray is facing the Australian a lot earlier in the tournament than he would have liked. The two-time major winner is favourite to prevail, but Kyrgios has the potential to be quite the force on clay, as he showed in beating Roger Federer in Madrid at the start of the month.

Kyrgios has also benefited from being handed a walkover in the second round after British number five Kyle Edmund was forced to withdraw with a stomach muscle problem. As for Murray, he came through comfortably against Facundo Arguello on Monday before he was pushed by Joao Sousa in the second round. At one point, Sousa appeared favourite to open up a two-sets-to-one lead over Murray but fortunately for British fans, the third seed upped his game and came through. He must improve this morning though. Kyrgios is a lot more uncompromising than Sousa.

The two players have been on two occasions, with Murray winning in Toronto last year and at this year's Australian Open. Kyrgios is improving, as well as maturing, though and this should be a closely-fought contest.

The two players have come through the warm-up and it will be Kyrgios to serve first. Game on!

It's a sublime start from Murray, who executes a drop shot from the back of the court, but Kyrgios powers back with a forehand winner, ace, and a huge first serve out wide. The Australian double faults on game point before Murray gets back to deuce with another drop shot. It's Kyrgios's game though after he sends down a second ace and second forehand winner.

Murray seems intent on using the drop shot at the start of this match and so far, it's paying off. Murray is cruising at 40-0 but some massive hitting from Kyrgios gets him back to deuce. Murray is fortunate when Kyrgios frames a potential winner and it's enough to get him through the game.

BREAK! Kyrgios begins his second service game with a deft drop shot, but a double fault and two wild forehands give Murray two break points. The Australian's game has completely unravelled in this game and a second double fault hands Murray the advantage.

BREAK! Murray starts the game miles behind the baseline and it allows Kyrgios to dictate three successive rallies to get to 0-40. Murray responds well, connecting with a first serve and an ace, but he then double faults to allow Kyrgios to get back on level terms.

The opening two points are taken by Kyrgios but Murray is flummoxing him with his variety and we soon arrive at deuce after mistakes from the Australian. He holds on though confidently enough to regain the lead.

At the change of ends, Murray made his feelings known about a camera moving into his eye-line during his service motion and he's perhaps a little distracted in allowing Kyrgios to get to 30-30. That gets worse when he dumps a backhand into the net, but Murray's serve improves and he's able to rattle off three points in a row.

BREAK! Wowzers! At 15-15, Murray lobs Kyrgios but the Australian responds with a hot-dog lob that lands inside the baseline and forces the mistake out of Murray. Marvellous stuff. However, Murray hangs in there to get to deuce and after passing Kyrgios down the line for break point, the Australian obliges with another forehand error and he moves a break ahead for the second time in this set.

This is a captivating contest. It's equally interesting to hear the language from both players. The air has been turned as blue as the clear sky in Paris. On this occasion, the frustration is from Murray after falling 15-40 behind but somehow, the Scot recovers to deuce with a cross-court backhand lob that catches out his opponent. A drop shot from Murray helps him seal the game and move one away from the opening set.

We've been treated some quite ridiculous shots this morning and Kyrgios adds to the collection with a backhand flick from the back of the court that catches the line. Murray misses out on a chance for 30-30 and that allows Kyrgios to ease to a hold to 15.

SET! It's a cracking start from Murray, who drills down two serves that can't be returned by his opponent, before he sneaks into the net to put away a backhand volley. It's three set points for the Scot, but he only needs one as he converts another ace.

Kyrgios needs to come out flying in this second set but a double fault sees him fall 0-30 behind. It's a super response though, as two shots off the ground catch the line before Murray is left floundering by a perfectly-executed drop shot. The game is sealed with more aggressive play from the Australian and he needed that game.

That last game has encouraged Kyrgios and he does his best to make Murray work for his opening service game of the second set. He reaches deuce, but Murray holds firm to get on the board.

Wow, Kyrgios looks incredibly relaxed right now. After firing down another huge winner, he displays the softest of touches at the net to diffuse a Murray return. It's a hold to love for the 20-year-old.

Despite taking the opening point, Murray doesn't look comfortable and concedes two double faults in a row. He responds by taking plenty off his first serve but it at least gets him into a few rallies and he's able to hold to 30.

BREAK! Kyrgios opens with a double fault but his touch is superb for a player who is known for his power and he gets to 30-15 with a drop shot and a lob. It's Murray's turn to show the technical side of his game to reach break point, but Kyrgios saves it with a thunderous forehand winner into the corner. Murray gets a second opening though, and on this occasion, he nails a backhand down the line to edge in front.

Like in the first set, Kyrgios responds to falling a break behind by going on the offensive and his remarkable hitting gets him to 15-40. Kyrgios should be back on level terms but he wastes an easy forehand to break back, and after Murray saves two more break points, he comes through with the hold. How big could that be?

BREAK! Kyrgios takes his unforced error count up to 22 to give Murray a sniff at 30-30, and the Scot takes advantage with a cross-court forehand winner to bring up break point. Kyrgios proceeds to make his 23rd unforced error, this time off his backhand wing, and Murray has the double break.

Hmmm, this doesn't look great for Kyrgios. The trainer has been called onto court and is taking a look at his wrist. Kyrgios has just told him that he is struggling to get any power on his serve.

SET! Kyrgios opts to continue with his wrist and arm heavily strapped. He takes the opening points thanks to a Murray error, but it quickly becomes evident that Kyrgios can't get the same power into his shots. Murray holds to 30 and he's now a set away from the fourth round.

The pair trade drop shots which sees Kyrgios move 30-15 ahead but two successive mistakes result in Murray creating another break point. The Australian survives, but a double fault gives Murray a second chance, which is taken away from him when Kyrgios gets fortunate with a net cord. The 20-year-old saves a third when Murray nets and he's able to hold onto his serve and effectively remain in the match.

BREAK! This is rather bizarre. Kyrgios is playing at three quarters his usual power but he is able to bring up a break point after Murray makes a couple of glaring errors. The Australian seals the game with a venomous forehand winner from the back of the court and he has a cushion in this set.

BREAK! And just like that, Kyrgios implodes and hands the break straight back to Murray. It was all his own doing too, and he lets his frustration out by smashing a ball out of court.

At 30-15, Kyrgios looks in control of a rally but he shouts "no way" as Murray connects with a fully on the stretch which flies past the Australian. Like I said earlier in the match, we have been treated to some magical shots. Kyrgios gets a look at a second serve at 40-30 but he can only dump it into the net.

Murray has a glimmer of an opening at 15-30 but Kyrgios is finding a way of continuing to fight in this contest, despite being restricted by his wrist problem. In fact, it may be improving and he shows his mettle with three successive points to hold to 30.

It's a routine hold for Murray, who moves Kyrgios around the court before converting an easy backhand for a 40-0 lead. Kyrgios reduces to deficit to two points but he is powerless to prevent Murray drilling an ace down the middle.

BREAK! In a matter of seconds, a baseline error and double fault from Kyrgios concede 0-30 to Murray before the Scot powers a backhand winner down the line. The third seed has three break points, and although Kyrgios saves the first, he can't do anything with the second as Murray connects with a cross-court forehand that the Australian can only fire wide.

What a ruthless game. After Kyrgios makes a mistake on the first point, Murray races though the remainder of it a forehand winner and two aces, taking his total to 12 for the match.

MATCH! Murray gets to 15-30 after coming out on top in a duel at the net before firing a backhand winner down the line. He's two points away from the match but Kyrgios replies with two excellent drop shots. He has the game on his racquet but he blasts a forehand wide to allow Murray to reach deuce. The Scot reaches match point but Kyrgios saves it with perhaps his most ridiculous forehand winner of the contest. Murray creates a second chance with a forehand winner before a backhand return winner finally gets the job done. That was an A-star performance from the British number one.

After just over two hours, Andy Murray books his place in the fourth round of the French Open with a physical dissection of Nick Kyrgios. The Australian had his moments during an entertaining match but he had no answers to the variety of Murray, who produced a considerable improvement on his performance in the second round.

Either David Goffin or Jeremy Chardy will face Murray in the fourth round. That match will take place on Monday.

That will be all from Sports Mole for this match. We hope that you enjoyed our coverage of what was a high-quality meeting between two of the sport's biggest entertainers. Goodbye for now.