Murray, Serena make good start
Print Edition
SECOND seed Andy Murray showed no mercy to fellow Britain Liam Broady as he launched his Wimbledon challenge with a straightforward 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 victory in London yesterday.
The day after British qualifier Marcus Willis, the world No. 772, made headlines by reaching the second round — where he will face Roger Federer — 235th-ranked Broady was given the Centre Court spotlight but played a subservient role as Murray gave a masterclass.
Murray, the 2013 champion, had not faced a fellow Britain in 56 previous Wimbledon matches while two home players had not squared off at the All England Club for 15 years.
Murray admitted beforehand that it had felt “weird” but it was business as usual once play began as he broke twice to pocket the opening set in 25 minutes.
Broady, still sporting the beard that caused a stir when he won a round last year, contributed to some eye-catching rallies but landed few telling blows as Murray raced away.
Murray next faces Lu Yen-hsun of Chinese Taipei.
Earlier, world No. 1 and defending champion Serena Williams racked up her 80th Wimbledon victory as she began her bid for a record-equalling 22nd grand slam title.
The 34-year-old six-time champion battled to a 6-2, 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic, ranked 148th.
She will face fellow American Christina McHale for a place in the last 32.
“My mom was up there in the Royal Box, so that was nice,” said the American star after giving mother Oracene Price an afternoon to remember on Centre Court.
Williams claimed victory over Sadikovic on a second match point courtesy of a successful Hawk-Eye challenge.
Top seed Williams won her 21st major at the All England Club 12 months ago by beating Garbine Muguruza. But her hopes of going level with Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 has stalled since that day.
Swiss fourth seed Stan Wawrinka defeated American teenager Taylor Fritz 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-4 to set up a second-round blockbuster against Argentine Juan Martin del Potro.
Injury-plagued del Potro, a former US Open champion, is playing in his first grand slam event since the 2014 Australian Open after undergoing three wrist surgeries. Del Potro made the second round by beating France’s Stephane Robert 6-1, 7-5, 6-0.
Nick Kyrgios, the 15th seed, beat Czech wildcard Radek Stepanek, the oldest man in the draw at 37, 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (9), 6-1.
The Australian next faces German wildcard Dustin Brown who got past Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Also, China’s Duan Yingying beat Czech Kristyna Pliskova 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 but her compatriot Wang Qiang lost to Daria Gavrilova of Australia 6-2, 3-6, 4-6.
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