Andy Murray began the defence of his Madrid Open title with a hard-fought three-set victory over Czech veteran Radek Stepanek. Murrays Masters route Who could Murray face in Madrid? Murray, who won at this venue last year, was given a stern workout by 37-year-old Stepanek before eventually coming through 7-6 3-6 6-1 in two hours and 14 minutes.The Scot said: Not a lot of the match was played on my terms. It was very tough. Next up for Murray will be Frenchman Gilles Simon or Pablo Carreno Busta who meet on Wednesday in the Spanish capital. Radek Stepanek caused Andy Murray plenty of problems Stepanek, who had won the most recent meeting between the men with a straight sets success at Queens in 2014, was to prove equally as awkward under the Madrid lights, starting strongly by breaking Murray in the opening game of the match before comfortably holding his serve to open up a two-game lead. Andy Murray is into the last 16 of the Madrid Open after beating Radek Stepanek Murray had won the two previous clay-court meetings between the men and he began to find his range, taking the chance to break back in the sixth game to put himself back in control.With Stepanek still going for his shots, Murray was happy to play from the back of the court in hope of forcing an error and despite a hint of an opening in game ten for the man from Dunblane, Stepanek found the answers to hold on and level the match at 5-5. The Czech soon found himself 0-30 in front on the Murray serve, but the world No 2 battled back to hold before the first set headed into a tie-break, which Murray took 7-3 - although it was far from straightforward.A dominant hold of serve followed for the Czech to start the second set before Murray cruised into 40-0 on his own serve. However, a blistering barrage from Stepanek saw him break Murrays first service game of the set for the second time in the match before consolidating for a 3-0 lead. Murray kept his cool despite a barrage of winners from his veteran opponent A barrage of Stepanek winners had Murray on the back foot throughout and while Murray forced break points at 2-4 down, he could not convert and after exchanging a couple of holds, Stepanek stood firm on his own serve to take the second set 6-3 in 44 minutes.Murray broke in the second game of the decider to take the initiative in a set for the first time in the match and with a flagging Stepanek feeling the pace, Murray broke again for a 4-0 lead.Despite a flurry from the Czech, who forced break points at 5-1 down, Murrays performance in the third set saw him through in comfortable style eventually and will be what is required as he moves through the draw in pursuit of a first title of the year.You can follow the Madrid Open on Sky Sports 1 on Wednesday from 11am. Also See: Nadal victorious in Madrid Murrays Masters route Cowans questions for Madrid Video Wholesale Custom Rays Shirts . 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Australian rugby sevens whiz-kid Henry Hutchison might have no trouble finding the try-line but hes not so good at finding the team mascot, Wally.Tradition dictates that as the youngest member of the Australian team Hutchison, 19, has to ensure the safe-keeping of the stuffed wallaby, who sits on the sideline during matches.But Hutchison was hammered by his teammates after Wally went missing for 24 hours at the team training camp in Mangaratiba, outside of Rio.It wasnt any of the Australians who had kidnapped the mascot but the Swedish womens soccer team, who are also training at the venue.I was stitched up by the Swedish girls who stole him last night, Hutchison said.He was missing for 24 hours so I copped a few punishments for that.Hutchison said the team had completed their final heavy session training and would begin to taper as they prepared to move in to the athletes village in Rio on Thursday.The Australians finished fourth in the recent world series but Hutchison, who was named Rookie of the Year by World Rugby in May after scoring 27 tries in seven tournaments, felt they could move up to a podium position.ddddddddddddWere the underdogs but in mens sevens theres six or seven teams who could take that gold medal out so it could come down to a few plays on that final day, Hutchison said.Fourth at the end of the world series is a solid finish in a very competitive group of teams and weve put in endless hours of work and training post that and I think weve taken things to a new level.I wouldnt be surprised if were on the podium at the end.The men will march in the opening ceremony on Friday night with their first match against France not until the following Tuesday however the womens team, who are gold medal favourites, wont as they play Saturday against Colombia. 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