London: Defending champion Andy Murray outclassed German maverick Dustin Brown 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in an entertaining match of exhibition style shots Wednesday to maintain his record of always having reached at least round three at Wimbledon.
Brown, ranked 97th in the world, was a potentially tricky opponent having beaten twice champion Rafa Nadal in the second round in 2015.
Despite being moved around the court by a barrage of drop shots and lobs from Brown, World No.1 Murray only rarely showed signs of the sore hip that had been troubling him and he gave as good as he got – but with more accuracy and control.
Meanwhile new mum Victoria Azarenka continued her comeback bid for Wimbledon glory as Kei Nishikori and Johanna Konta ground out victories to reach the third round.
Former World No.1 Azarenka, playing her first Grand Slam tournament since giving birth to first child Leo in December, knocked out Russian 15th seed Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-3.
The Belarusian, 27, could become the first mother to win the Wimbledon singles since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980. “Travelling is a little stressful for me, travelling with a baby. I want to make sure that everything is okay. But overall, it’s just great. It’s really fun that I’m able to go home and spend time with my son,” she said.
Azarenka next faces British wildcard Heather Watson who also upset the form book. The World No. 102 downed Latvian 18th seed Anastasija Sevastova in straight sets 6-0, 6-4.
British sixth seed Konta reached the Wimbledon third round for the first time with a marathon 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 10-8 win over Donna Vekic which left her opponent in tears.
Nishikori dug deep to keep his Wimbledon hopes alive as the Japanese ninth seed ground out a 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) win over Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky. He next faces Spanish 18th seed Roberto Bautista Agut who ousted German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk 6-2, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3.
France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the 12th seed, made short work of Italian qualifier Simone Bolelli in the sizzling heat, winning 6-1, 7-5, 6-2.
Reuters