Murray, Nadal, Serena get off to strong starts

Andy Murray made a successful return in his first match since winning at Wimbledon, beating Spain’s Marcel Granollers 6-4, 7-6 (2) on Wednesday in the second round of the Rogers Cup in Montreal.

The second-seeded Murray, a two-time Rogers Cup champion, won his 13th straight match, including his victories at London and Wimbledon, where the Scot became the first male British champion in 77 years.

Murray will face Latvia’s Ernests Gulbis, a 6-3, 1-6, 6-1 winner over Italy’s Fabio Fognini.

Rafael Nadal also opened with a victory, routing Canada’s Jesse Levine 6-2, 6-0. Also a two-time Rogers Cup winner, the fourth-seeded Spanish star was playing for the first time since a first-round loss at Wimbledon.

“Pleased about the victory, first thing,” Nadal said. “After seven weeks without playing a match, starting in a very tough tournament on a fast court, to be through to the third round is good.”

Also, fifth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic beat Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3, 6-4; France’s Benoit Paire topped eighth-seeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 6-2, 7-6 (2); and Marinko Matosevic had a 5-0 lead when 10thseeded Tommy Haas of Germany retired. Canada’s Milos Raonic, seeded 11th, beat Russia’s Mikhail Youzny 6-4, 6-4 in a match briefly interrupted by rain.

In the women’s tournament in Toronto, topseeded Serena Williams made quick work of her first opponent by defeating Italy’s Francesca Schiavone 6-3, 6-2. Williams, who received a firstround bye, needed 75 minutes to complete the victory.

Her next opponent will be 13th-seeded Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium, who posted a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 win over Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.