Murray too hot for Stan
against a player such as Stan, who I have played lots of tough games against – I’m delighted to get the win.
“I said to my team that, as I have no ranking, I cannot control who I am drawn against. You get guys like this and just have to deal with it as best you can and hopefully win the games, so I’m happy.” There were genuine flashes of the old Murray against Wawrinka but the Swiss certainly helped his opponent with a score of unforced errors throughout.
Wawrinka is himself on the comeback trail after knee surgery but was much further down the line than Murray, having played at the Italian Open, Geneva Open, French Open and at Queen’s Club before yesterday’s clash.
It had looked like a tough draw for Murray but during the match if anything it was Warwrinka who looked rusty.
Murray, beaten by Nick Kyrgios at Queen’s Club last week, already looked much stronger and fitter. He started slowly but soon found his rhythm as he saved four break points, then broke Wawrinka’s erratic serve twice in the first set to go into a 5-1 lead and take the set.
Wawrinka simply never recovered. A brilliant running forehand from Murray set up another break to give him a 3-2 lead in the second set and then a lovely backhand volleyed lob made it 4-2.
There were signs of cobwebs in his game and one wayward shot led to Murray exclaiming in anguish: “Oh my God!”
But mostly it was Wawrinka muttering his displeasure at the umpire and at one point thumping the backboard with his racket in frustration.
Murray now faces the man who, in his absence this past year, has inherited the crown of British No 1.
Murray said: “Kyle has been playing fantastic. He is a great player who is improving all the time. He’s getting really close to the top of the game, which is a credit to him and everyone who works with him. I’m expecting a tough one. I will do my best.”
Dan Evans, meanwhile, moved to within just two wins of making it into the main draw at Wimbledon after being refused a wild card for the tournament following his ban for testing positive for cocaine. He won his first match in main qualifying against the world No126, Belarusian Ilya Ivashka, 6-4, 6-4.