Andy Murray, Aljaz Bedene, James Ward and Heather Watson all win at Wimbledon
Tuesday 30 June 2015 22:53, UK
Andy Murray was given an unexpected run for his money in his Wimbledon first-round clash against Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin, but still came through in the end.
The world No 3 joined Aljaz Bedene, James Ward and Heather Watson in the second round of Wimbledon as the British players ensured that the home fans had something to cheer on a hot, hot day in south west London.
Murray needs time ...
Andy Murray didn't disappoint his supporters on Tuesday.
The third-seeded Brit advanced to the second round at Wimbledon with a 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 win over Kukushkin on Centre Court, but he didn't have things all his own way.
Kukushkin certainly made his opponent sweat, particularly in the second set when the Kazakh was 6-5 up and serving, but he failed to convert and Murray was spared a lengthy contest following a brief wobble.
"It doesn't say on this match report how well I played, it just says that I won the match. That's the most important thing," said Murray fingering a sheet of paper he had brought with him to his post-match news conference.
"It's a bit frustrating because you obviously want to go out there and perform as best you can, whereas today I didn't feel like I was able to do that because of the way that he was playing," he said.
He will hope to rediscover that form in his second-round match against Dutchman Robin Haase on Thursday
Good news for British tennis ...
Four British men are into round two at the All England Club for the first time since 2006.
The last time Britain had such a second-round men's collective in south west London, Murray and Tim Henman were flanked by Jamie Delgado, Martin Lee and Richard Bloomfield.
Joining Murray are James Ward and Aljaz Bedene, as well as Liam Broady who won on Monday, while Heather Watson saved three match points to make it through in the women's draw.
"For me, it's nice, I know all of them fairly well," Murray said. "I've obviously spent a lot of time training with James, really more in the last 12 to 18 months.
"Aljaz I don't know so well, Heather obviously had a good win today, too.
"It's good for British tennis. The more wins and more players we can have in these events, it makes a difference."
Shocks still happen ... in the women's game at least!
Third seed Simona Halep and 2014 runner-up Eugenie Bouchard slumped to defeat in sweltering London, proving that shocks are still possible in the women's game.
Halep, a semi-finalist in 2014 and third seed this year, became the tournament's biggest casualty so far when she lost 5-7 6-4 6-3 to Jana Cepelova of Slovakia.
The 22-year-old Cepelova, ranked 106 in the world, had won only one match on the tour all year before Tuesday but had big match experience due to her win over world No 1 Serena Williams in Charleston last year.
Also leaving early was the sport's poster girl Bouchard. The 21-year-old Canadian lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 to Chinese qualifier Duan Ying-Ying, the world No 117 who had never previously beaten a player inside the top 75.
The defeat was 12th-seeded Bouchard's 12th in her last 14 matches and will see her drop out of the world top 20.
Petra's too quick ...
Defending women's champion Petra Kvitova, the second seed, barely had time to work up a sweat, taking just 35 minutes to reach the second round in a 6-1 6-0 win over Kiki Bertens.
Her win was the fastest on the women's tour in five years.
Fed still gets the jitters ...
With seven Wimbledon trophies, 15 titles on grass and 136 victories on the lush green surface, there is not much that fazes Roger Federer when he turns up at the All England Club. He beat Bosnian journeyman Damir Dzumhur with a regal 6-1 6-3 6-3 victory that was all over in 68 majestic minutes.
The man who has contested nine All England Club finals, and 25 overall at the majors, was certainly feeling the love from 15,000 Centre Court spectators who stood to attention as he sauntered in to begin his pursuit of a record eighth Wimbledon trophy.
The Swiss second seed made a surprising admission when asked what it felt like walking onto a court that might be considered his second home.
"It's nerves," the 33-year-old father of four told reporters after walking off drenched in sweat. "It's exciting. But after all, it's a privilege to be there. I was trying to think how many times I've played there now. I don't know. I know it's been often. Still every time it feels like it's a special occasion, for sure."
Equal rights?
Temperatures on Tuesday rocketed to around 30 degrees Celsius but Wednesday could top the Wimbledon record of 34C set in 1976.
Organisers say the heat rule, which allows for a 10-minute break between the second and third sets of women's matches, can be used when temperatures rise above 30.1C.
However, the rule, which has been adopted by Wimbledon after lobbying from the WTA, does not apply to men even though they have to slug it out over the best of five sets.
Do svidanya, Wimbledon
There were zero victories for Russian men at the All England Club this year which is first time at any Grand Slam tournament since Wimbledon in 1998 that no man from the country won a singles match.
Mikhail Youzhny lost on Tuesday to France's Benoit Paire 6-4 6-4 6-3.
A day earlier, Teymuraz Gabashvili was beaten by Germany's Alexander Zverev 6-3 1-6 6-3 3-6 9-7.
Bra gate
Eugenie Bouchard avoided punishment after questions were raised over whether her bra broke Wimbledon's strict dress code.
Bouchard, 21, was playing against China's Ying-Ying Duan when chair umpire Louise Engzell noticed that she was wearing a black bra.
After the matter was referred to the Referee's Office it was decided that no action was required.
Wimbledon's dress code states that players must dress in "almost entirely white" during competitive matches at the All England Club.
Asked about it afterwards, the Canadian player said: "I was not aware of that at all. And no one told me anything about my bra."
Wednesday's Match of the day
Liam Broady v David Goffin
Andy Murray is a Broady fan, after watching the British player's debut win over Marinko Matosevic on Monday. Belgian Goffin will be another tough test. Murray says of Broady: "He's a nice guy. He's good fun to be around. I haven't spent loads of time with him.
"But every time I've been in his company, he makes you feel good. You laugh when you're around him. He's a fun guy. So I was really, really pleased he managed to get through that one."
