KEY RESULTS
Heather Watson having also made the last 32, it is the first time since 1986 that two British women have reached the third round at Wimbledon.
Kei Nishikori dug deep to keep his challenge alive as the Japanese star ground out a 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) win over Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky.
Despite reaching at least the quarter-finals of the other three Grand Slams, Nishikori has never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Former world number one Azarenka, playing her first Grand Slam tournament since giving birth to first child Leo in December, knocked out Russian 15th seed Elena Vesnina.
The 2012 and 2013 Australian Open champion, in her fourth match back, won 6-3, 6-3, taking her record over the Russian to 8-0 without dropping a set.
The Belarusian, 27, could become the first mother to win the Wimbledon singles since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.
“Travelling is a little Men's second round: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x12) bt Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-1, 7-5, 6-2; Sam Querrey (USA x24) bt Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO) 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Gilles Muller (LUX x16) bt Lukás Rosol (CZE) 7-5, 6-7 (7/9), 4-6, 6-3, 9-7; Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP x18) bt Peter Gojowczyk (GER) 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3
Women's second round: Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x8) bt Jennifer Brady (USA) 6-4, 6-4; Ana Konjuh (CRO x27) bt Irina Begu (ROM) 7-6 (7/3), 2-6, 6-3; Maria Sakkari (GRE) bt Kristýna Plísková (CZE) 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4; Victoria Azarenka (BLR) bt Elena Vesnina (RUS x15) 6-3, 6-3; Heather Watson (GBR) bt Anastasija Sevastova (LAT x18) 6-0, 6-4
stressful for me, travelling with a baby. I want to make sure that everything is okay. But overall, it’s just great. It’s really fun that I’m able to go home and spend time with my son,” she said.
“Overall, I felt like I played really good on the important moments, which gave me opportunities
to win comfortably,” she said of the match.
Azarenka next faces British wildcard Heather Watson who also upset the form book. The world number 102 knocked out Latvian 18th seed Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets.
“I think Vika is an incredible player and person,” Watson said of Azarenka. “I know she has only just come back, but I expect her to be playing really well because I know she will have put in the hours and the work.”
Men’s defending champion Murray was due to face the unpredictable servevolleyer Dustin Brown on Centre Court, before Nadal steps out into the 15,000seater arena.
Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion, is looking to reach the third round for only the second time since he finished runner-up in 2011 when he faces fellow left-hander Donald Young of the United States.
Fresh from winning a historic 10th French Open, Nadal is looking bury memories of the 2015 second round defeat to Brown, his last appearance at the All England Club.