Andy Murray vs. Joao Sousa: Score and Reaction from 2015 French Open

Andy Murray moved on to the third round of the 2015 French Open with a four-set victory (6-2, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1) over Joao Sousa on Thursday. The No. 3 seed will face Australian rising star Nick Kyrgios, who advanced without taking the court after Kyle Edmund withdrew.  

The match was a solid test for Murray at this stage of the tournament. He put together a terrific effort to dismantle Facundo Arguello in his opening match, but it's usually a positive to get challenged during an early match as preparation for the latter rounds. The Scot remains unbeaten on clay this season at 12-0.

Murray came out flying in the first set, showcasing why he's a top contender to win the title at Roland Garros. He was playing rock-solid tennis in virtually every aspect of the game, especially on serve.

Kheredine Idessane of BBC Scotland noted Murray's only mistakes came in the final game of the set before he recovered to close it out at 6-2:

Simon Cambers of The Tennis Space was impressed with the display from Murray:

He wasn't able to maintain that level of play in the second set, and Sousa took advantage. The Portuguese veteran got more looks at Murray's second serve and grabbed control of the points. As a result, he broke serve two straight times to steal the set.

Dan King of The Sun spotlighted the turning tide midway through the set:

Tom Allnutt of the Press Association showcased Murray's serving struggles in the second:

Losing the set served as a wake-up call for Murray, as is usually the case with top players in the early rounds. He bounced back nicely over the next two sets.

The third-ranked player in the world didn't have his serve broken again. Preventing Sousa from getting those easier looks on the second serve swung the match back in his favor, and he never looked back. His all-around game was just too strong.

Piers Newbery of BBC Sport credited Murray for a strong effort to regain control:

Russell Fuller of the BBC remarked on Sousa's play, but the No. 3 seed was too strong on this day:

With the win, Murray has another distinction in the event, per BBC Tennis:

As mentioned, he moves on to face Kyrgios in Round 3. The third seed won each of their previous two meetings, including one earlier this year at the Australian Open. Both matches ended in straight sets.

Kyrgios has enough raw power to cause problems for top opponents. The 20-year-old Aussie proved that last season with a victory over Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon. But his all-around game is still a work in progress, and Murray has been able to take advantage in those prior encounters.

The slower clay courts should further help Murray neutralize Kyrgios' big serve and dangerous forehand, but he still cannot afford an off day if he's going to reach the fourth round.