Murray hands Aussie bad boy a good hiding

IT had been billed as Andy Murray’s toughest challenge yet in his latest bid to win a second Wimbledon men’s singles title.

But the world No 2 eased his way to victory against 15th seed Nick Kyrgios in straight sets yesterday, much to the delight of his watching wife Kim and the Centre Court crowd.

Even before the third and final set was over, his usually fiery Australian opponent, was heard to say ‘I’m so f ***** ’ to himself as he sat disconsolate on his chair during a break between games.

On court however, Kyrgios, 21, who had already been fined twice for unsportsmanlike conduct and audible obscenity in the tournament, seemed for once to be on his best behaviour and there were no further examples of the sweary tantrums he has become notorious for.

Kyrgios was seen watching a doubles match two hours before playing Murray, which caused tennis legend John McEnroe to question the Australian’s pre-match preparation.

Despite the so-called ‘bromance’ between the two players off court and Kyrgios’s claim there was ‘love at first sight’ when they first met, Murray showed no mercy as he powered

AMONG other perks, players can claim two free tickets to London shows during Wimbledon fortnight. Musicals Matilda and Wicked have been this year’s most popular with 15 pairs each, pushing a Beyonce concert at Wembley into second place

his way to a 7-5, 6-1,6-4 win in an hour and 43 minutes.

Murray, 29, will now face Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, the No 12 seed from France, in tomorrow’s quarter finals.

If he was playing anyone but the Scot, Tsonga, 31, would have been the crowd’s favourite, having won fans’ hearts with his ebullient displays, big serves and sometimes extravagant shot-making.

Last night Murray said of his win over Kyrgios: ‘The first set was very tight. I managed to get the break at 6-5 but it was tight up to that point. The second set was much more comfortable, Nick lost his focus a bit. I was able to dictate a lot of the rallies.’ Having been silenced on court by Murray, Kyrgios was also subdued in his post-match press conference. Shaking his head, he described his own performance as ‘pretty pathetic’ apart from a good first set.

‘As soon as I lost the first set, I lost belief and it felt like a mountain to climb,’ he said. Looking glum, Kyrgios said he did not really love the sport of tennis but added: ‘I don’t know what else to do without it.’ The shock defeat of defending champion and world No 1 Novak Djokovic on Saturday has led to growing expectations that Murray will win the title for a second time.

But last night the Scot said: ‘Every year I play here it’s the same, it’s not any different this year. I try my best to win my matches and go as deep as possible. The matches, as you progress, get tougher. Tsonga is next who is a tough grass court player and I’ll have to play very well to win that one.’

It will be his ninth consecutive Wimbledon quarter final, matching the performances of Pete Sampras and John McEnroe but still behind the record of 14 by Roger Federer – who also won on Centre Court yesterday – and Jimmy Connors.

Murray became the first British man to win the Wimbledon singles title in 77 years in 2013. Fred Perry had been the last to do it in 1936, having also won 1934 and 1935. Sebastian Shakespeare – Pages 32-33