Andy slams dopey Dan
Relief as magic Murray breezes through
FIGHTING fit Andy Murray strolled into the second round at Wimbledon – then took a swipe at Dan Evans.
Defending champ Murray showed few signs of his hip problems as he battered Alexander Bublik 6-1 6-4 6-2 on Centre Court yesterday.
It sets up a clash with Germany’s Dustin Brown tomorrow.
Murray is happy with his own game but he blasted fellow Brit Evans, who is facing a lengthy drugs ban.
Evans tested positive for cocaine and Murray fears his Davis Cup team-mate has thrown his career away. “He has let himself down and all of the people that help him,” said the world No.1.
“It’s a difficult time for him but he put himself in that position.
“He’s put himself in a position to do really well for the last few years of his career and he has blown that now.
“It’s going to be a long road back if he wants to do it. He’s made poor
HIP Hip Hooray. Andy Murray’s title defence is up and running after a stress-free 6-1 6-4 6-2 win over Alexander Bublik.
The top seed and defending champion had the nation holding its collective breath after pulling out of two exhibition matches at Hurlingham last week.
The hip injury is still causing Murray some discomfort but let’s face it, the Brit can grimace with the best of them even when fighting fit.
He moved gingerly at times, notably at the changeovers, but crucially his court coverage was good and the ailment proved no handicap to a comfortable victory.
Tougher afternoons lie ahead with the free-spirited Bublik lacking the consistency and game to seriously test him.
Once Murray had saved two break points in his opening service game, this was probably the perfect match for the Brit.
He won in one hour, 44 minutes to set up a second round match against Rafa Nadal’s 2015 conqueror, the flamboyant GermanJamaican Dustin Brown.
Bublik, ranked 135 in the world and playing his first Tour match on grass, claims its all game for a laugh.
Obvious
He rarely watches tennis and proudly insists he goes into every contest without a gameplan.
That much was obvious early on as a succession of drop-shots were easily read and hunted down by a galloping Murray, a clear demonstration that whatever is wrong with that hip, it can’t be too serious.
The 20-year-old Kasakh has undoubted talent and he wowed the Centre Court crowd with a happy-go-lucky attitude and some outrageous strokes.
But poor shot selection, 12 double faults – many at crucial moments – and 35 unforced errors ensured there was little chance of Murray going down to a lucky loser for the third time in a row.
Though Bublik comfortably held his own opening serve, a run of seven successive games in Murray’s favour shaped the contest. The Scot won the first set in just half-an-hour then took an immediate stranglehold in the second.
At 4-5, Bublik was love-40 on the Murray serve, offering hope of an unlikely comeback. But then composure deserted him and the two-times champion produced the shot of the match, unleashing a stunning crosscourt forehand from behind the baseline to pass Bublik on his way to wrapping up the second set.
Rain at the start of the third delayed Murray’s passage but by then he had
broken again to snuff out any threat of a comeback.
This was his first win since the French Open quarter-finals, having lost to Jordan Thompson at Queen’s a fortnight ago.
Murray has struggled for form during a season disrupted at regular intervals by illness and injury.
But nothing brings out the best in him like the lawns of the All England Club and the Scot was well satisfied.
He said: “The last few days, I was feeling better each day. And the adrenaline helps numb the pain you have.
“I moved well and played pretty well for a first match.”
Murray was full of praise for his Kazakhstani opponent, who was making his Wimbledon debut.
He added: “I was chatting to him in the rain delay, which is pretty rare.
“He is a bit of a character and different to some players. The crowd enjoyed him and his personality.”