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. 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ATLANTA -- Trea Turner homered, had four hits and scored four runs, Max Scherzer won his fifth straight decision and the Washington Nationals beat the Atlanta Braves 7-2 on Friday night.Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon each added two RBI.The Nationals, seeking their third NL East title in five years, have won 13 of 17. Their magic number to clinch the division is six with 15 games remaining.Scherzer (17-7) gave up seven hits, two runs, two walks and struck out eight in seven innings. The Washington ace is 12-3 with a 2.10 ERA in his last 20 starts.John Gant (1-4) allowed six hits, five runs and three walks in 1 2/3 innings. Appearing in his 16th game with seven starts, Gant had his ERA rise 84 points to 5.24.The Nationals took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Rendons two-run single and went up 5-0 in the second on Turners ninth homer and Murphys RBI double.Atlanta made it 5-1 in the bottom of the second on Tyler Flowers RBI single. Flowers cut the lead to 5-2 in the sixth with a sacrifice fly.Turner stole second and third in the seventh and scored on Murphys sacrifice fly. Turners 26th stolen base dropped Flowers, the Atlanta catcher, to 1 for 56 this season on caught stealing attempts.Turner added a ground-rule double and score in the ninth on Jayson Werths single.Murphy has 46 doubles, most in the majors. His 104 RBI rank second in the NL.Blake Treinen pitched the eighth and Shawn Kelley the ninth for the Nationals.Washington improved to 15-2 against the NL-worst Braves this year and 36-11 in the series since June 21, 2014.BAKER IS BACKWashington manager Dusty Baker returned after a one-game absence due a death in his family. He arrived at Turner Field about three hours before the game.PROUD PARENTSInterim manager Brian Snitker told 1B Freddie Freeman to stay home and rest after his wiife, Chelsea, gave birth to their first child, a son, on Thursday.dddddddddddd Freeman is expected to be back in the lineup on Saturday. Rookie Blake Lalli took his place and went 0 for 4. ... Nationals SS Danny Espinosa wasnt in the lineup after his wife, Sara, gave birth to a boy in California. Espinosa arrived during the fifth inning. Stephen Drew took his place and went 1 for 3 with one run scored.ON APPEALBraves RHP Jose Ramirez filed an appeal after receiving a three-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for throwing a pitch near the head of Marlins starting pitcher Jose Fernandez on Wednesday. Both teams benches emptied, but the situation settled down after players from both teams crowded around Fernandez, Ramirez and Flowers. Ramirez was ejected from the game.TRAINERS ROOMBraves 2B Jace Peterson was scratched from the lineup with a left ankle sprain. Gordon Beckham took his place and went 1 for 4. ... Braves OF Mallex Smith was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list after missing 76 games with a broken left thumb. Smith had a pinch-hit single in the seventh. ... Atlanta RHP Mike Foltynewicz is walking without much discomfort and could make a start next week. He was injured last Monday when a liner bounced off his calf.CENTRAL FLORIDA-BOUNDThe Braves are moving their high Single-A affiliate from Zebulon, North Carolina to Kissimmee, Florida before the start of next season.UP NEXTNationals: LHP Gio Gonzalez (11-9) will make his 30th start. Hes 4-8 with a 4.70 ERA in 16 career starts against Atlanta.Braves: Snitker has yet to announce Saturdays starter. RHP Josh Collmenter, acquired in a trade with the Chicago Cubs earlier this week, is a possibility. ' ' '