London, July 3 (IANS): Defending champion Andy Murray started his Wimbledon campaign on the right foot as he defeated Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on Monday.
With the Duchess of Cambridge watching from the royal box, British Murray, World and seeded No.1, needed just one hour and 44 minutes to get rid of the Russian-born Bublik, Reports Efe.
Bublik, 20, served 15 aces and fired 33 winners but his 12 double faults and 35 unforced errors made him vulnerable to Murray, who committed just 10 unforced errors.It seemed like the 30-year-old Murray has put his hip trouble behind him, which prevented him from participating in two exhibition matches before Wimbledon, as he chases his third crown, and the second in a row, at the All England Club. Rain interrupted the match just as Murray won the second set and it took 26 minutes to close the retractable roof.
Murray is set to play against German Dustin Brown, who defeated Portuguese Joao Sousa 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4.
Halep, Venus Williams ease into Wimbledon second round
French Open finallist Simona Halep eased past Marina Erakovic 6-4, 6-1 while American Venus Williams defeated Belgian Elise Mertens 7-6 (7), 6-4 in the opening round at Wimbledon on Monday.
Erakovic of New Zealand committed 31 unforced errors in one hour 14 minutes in a match that saw her serve broken five times by the Romanian second seed, reports Efe.
The Wimbledon 2014 quarterfinalist is set to play against Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, who defeated British Laura Robson 6-4, 6-1.
In another match, five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams also advanced to the second round after getting the better of Mertens in one hour and 40 minutes.
In her 20th participation at the All England Club, Venus, 37, fired 23 winners and committed 21 unforced errors to Merten’s 32 and 30.
Venus, seeded No.10, is set to play against Chinese Qiang Wang who defeated Kai-Chen Chang of Taiwan 6-3, 6-4.
