Wimbledon 2017: Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal outclass opponents at Wimbledon

Published: July 6 2017 - 9:11AM

London: Defending champion Andy Murray and red-hot Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal have made statements of intent as they both crushed their second round opponents at The All England Club.

First, Murray outclassed flamboyant German Dustin Brown 6-3 6-2 6-2 in an entertaining match of exhibition-style points, overcoming a potentially tricky opponent with a reputation for giant-killing.

Then Nadal took to the court and swept aside a very frustrated Donald Young 6-4 6-2 7-5. Nadal was rarely troubled by an opponent ranked 43rd in the world who chose to slug it out from the back of the court against the supreme Spanish baseliner.

Fourth seed Nadal, fresh from winning his 10th French Open title last month, was roared on by the crowd and he seemed to be able to produce winners at will with his swashbuckling forehand. Nadal will next face rising Russian star Karen Khachanov in the third round.

Murray faced a difficult task in Brown, a man more talented than his ranking of 97 indicates. Despite being moved all round the court by a barrage from Brown in the blazing heat, Briton Murray gave as good as he got - and better - playing the same shots with more accuracy and control. Murray only rarely showed signs of the sore hip that has been troubling him and he came through an easy winner.

"If he has a problem with his hip, I don't want to play against him when his hip is good," Brown told reporters.

Murray was aware of the danger Brown posed and knew breaking Brown early was a must but ultimately Brown gifted it to him with a double fault.

"Once I got the break in the first set, I felt the momentum was with me, I was starting to see the shots he was going to play a little bit quicker and that allowed me to get to some of the drop volleys and also come up with some good passing shots."

Murray now faces enigmatic Italian Fabio Fognini in the third round and is hoping for a more traditional battle against a man he has a 3-3 record against.

"I think against Fabio ... it's maybe easier to come up with a game plan because there will be a bit more structure and strategy in the match rather than just, reacting and sort of more kind of instinctive points," Murray said.

Joining them in the third round with impressive wins are Croatian seventh seed Marin Cilic and French 12th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Both men enjoyed straight sets wins. Cilic was most impressive in defeating dangerous grasscourter Florian Mayer 7-6 (7-2) 6-4 7-5, while Tsonga banished wily Italian veteran Simone Bolelli 6-2 7-5 6-2 to book a third round battle with America's Sam Querrey.

Joining them in the third round, but in far less convincing fashion, is Japanese ninth seed Kei Nishikori, who had trouble with unorthodox veteran Sergiy Stakhovsky before advancing 6-4 6-7 (9-7) 6-1 7-6 (8-6).

Other day-three highlights

- Home favourite Johanna Konta needed three hours and 10 minutes on Centre Court to see off 21-year-old Croatian Donna Vekic 7-6(4) 4-6 10-8 in the second round.

- Konta, the sixth seed, reached the third round for the first time in six appearances.

- Japan's Naomi Osaka held her nerves in the decisive third set to beat 22nd seed Barbora Strycova 6-1 0-6 6-4.

- Luxembourg's Gilles Muller rallied back after going down two sets to one to beat Czech Lukas Rosol 7-5 6-7(7) 4-6 6-3 9-7 after three hours and 37 minutes of play.

- American Sam Querrey, the 24th seed, recorded a 6-4 4-6 6-3 6-3 victory over Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili.

- Former world number one Victoria Azarenka set up a third round tie against Great Britain's Heather Watson after a 6-3 6-3 win over 15th seed Elena Vesnina.

- Great Britain's Heather Watson raced into the third round with a 6-0 6-4 win over 18th seed Anastasija Sevastova on Court Two.

Reuters

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