Ruthless Murray outclasses Brown
DEFENDING champion Andy Murray outclassed German Dustin Brown 6-3 6-2 6-2 in an entertaining match of exhibition style points yesterday, overcoming a potentially tricky opponent with a reputation for giant-killing.
Brown, ranked 97th in the world, beat twice-champion Rafa Nadal in the second round in 2015 and set out his familiar game plan of baffling drop shots right from the start.
But despite being moved all round the court by a barrage from Brown in the blazing heat, Briton Murray gave as good as he got – and better – playing the same shots with more accuracy and control.
Murray only rarely showed signs of the sore hip that has been troubling him and he came through an easy winner.
“He started very well and was coming up with great drop volleys and really going for the returns,” the world number one said.
“Once I got the break in the first set, I felt the momentum was with me, I was starting to see the shots he was going to play a little bit quicker and that allowed me to get to some of the drop volleys and also come up with some good passing shots.”
The top seed’s win was greeted by huge cheers from the home crowd who are hoping to see the 30-year-old twice champion become the first British player to retain a grand slam title since Fred Perry in the 1930s.
“It has been a good start, hopefully, keep it going,” said Murray, who plays Italy’s Fabio Fognini, seeded 28th, in round three.
Marin Cilic survived a difficult start to seal a spot in the third round after battling to a 7-6(2) 6-4 7-5 victory over German Florian Mayer in unrelenting heat on Court Two.
It looked as though the beaming sunlight was impeding the 1.98m seventh seed as his trusted serve immediately deserted him.
Mayer, ranked 114th in the world and without a victory over a top-10 player in 12 grand slam matches, broke in the first game of the match, before having the opportunity to serve for the first set.
However, Cilic broke back, and found his high-powered service game at the pivotal moment, hammering three aces to help edge the first-set tiebreak.
The 2014 US Open champion, who came into Wimbledon in good form having reached the final at Queen’s Club, fired four big winners to break in the ninth game of the second set before serving out the set.
Mayer did not give up without a fight, however, as he again broke the Cilic serve to lead 5-3 in the third, only to again flounder at the crucial moment, with Cilic storming back to win five games in a row and clinch victory with a trademark ace.
The Croatian will next face American Steve Johnson or Moldovan Radu Albot.
South Africa's Kevin Anderson advanced to the third round with a 6-3 7-6(4) 6-4 win over Italy's Andrea Seppi.
Venus Williams continued to fly the family flag in the absence of her sister and reigning Wimbledon champion Serena but suffered a scare against China’s 55th-ranked Qiang Wang in the second round.
The 37-year-old American, bidding for a sixth Wimbledon title, made a slow start but hit back to win 4-6 6-4 6-1 on a warm and sultry Court One.
Her opponent, playing only her fourth singles match at Wimbledon, was threatening a shock when she had break points at 3-3 in the second set against the misfiring 10th seed.
But Williams used her experience to steady the ship and levelled the match with a backhand pass before running away with the decider to book a third-round match against Japan’s Naomi Osaka.
Williams, one of only two former champions in the women’s draw, came to Wimbledon under a cloud after being involved in a road accident last month in Florida which resulted in the death of a 78-year-old man.
Her sister Serena is absent because she is expecting a baby, which has prompted new mum Victoria Azarenka to call for more child-friendly tournaments on the WTA Tour, saying not enough is done to help players travelling with young families.
The former world number one returned to action last month after giving birth to son Leo in December and will soon be joined on the Tour by Serena.
“I have been already talking about this point to the WTA,” Azarenka said after reaching the third round with a straight sets defeat of 15th seed Elena Vesnina.
“From my own power, I’ll do anything to make that happen, because I think it’s really important.”
added the Belarusian, who faces Britain’s Heather Watson next.
Creches are not mandatory facilities on the WTA Tour, although all the grand slam events cater for players travelling with young children.