Wimbledon 2017: Dominant Andy Murray cruises past Dustin Brown in straight sets to reach third round
The world No 1 and reigning SW19 champion secured a comfortable 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory
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Your support makes all the difference.The dreadlocked German went the same way as the rap-loving Russian as Andy Murray left another of the more flamboyant players in the men’s game in his wake. Forty-eight hours after disposing of Alexander Bublik, the world No 1 brushed aside the challenge of Dustin Brown, winning 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to secure a third-round meeting with yet another entertainer, Italy’s Fabio Fognini.
Murray has never failed to reach the third round here and never looked in danger of spoiling that record. Brown beat Rafael Nadal here two years ago, but the world No 97 rarely troubled Murray.
The 32-year-old German has a highly unpredictable game, hits more drop shots than probably any other player and can also strike the ball with great power. Murray, however has never lost in a Grand Slam tournament to a player ranked as low as Brown and disposed of him with a thoroughly professional performance.
Showing few signs of any physical discomfort following the hip injury which had disrupted his preparations for Wimbledon, Murray was a picture of efficiency. He held his serve with considerable ease and regularly threatened Brown’s.
With his net rushes, slices, drop shots and thunderous ground strokes, Brown can upset the rhythm of many players, but Murray coped admirably, even if the German looked threatening in the early stages.
“He started the match very well and was coming up with some great drop volleys and really going for the returns,” Murray said afterwards.
“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. I played well.”
Murray said the hip had not been a problem. “I’ve moved well,” he said. “In the first couple of matches it hasn’t affected me and I’ve been getting good practices in. I feel good. Hopefully it stays that way.”
Although the match was the second of the day on Centre Court it did not start until 4.39pm after Johanna Konta’s marathon three-hour victory over Donna Vekic. The temperature was 29C as the sun shone down from a clear blue sky on a perfect Wimbledon afternoon and it was hot enough for Murray to drape ice towels around his neck at changeovers.
Brown’s intentions became clear from the start. On the first point he attempted a drop shot return off serve, on the second he hammered a ferocious forehand return winner which landed just inside the baseline and on the third he won the point by playing chip-and-charge. Murray, nevertheless, proceeded to hold serve by ending the game with two aces followed by a service winner.
Brown saved a break point at 2-3, but at 3-4 the German lost his serve on a double fault and Murray served out for the opening set after just 35 minutes.
There continued to be times when Murray was occasionally flummoxed by Brown’s outrageous play and shot selection, but by the middle of the second set the Scot was firmly in control. Reading his opponent’s drop shots with increasing ease, Murray won four games in a row from 2-2 to take the second set in just 31 minutes.
By the start of the third set Brown was looking increasingly dispirited and at 1-1 Murray broke again. Even when the Scot hit two double faults in a game Brown was unable to take advantage and after yet another break Murray served out for the match, completing the job with a service winner after only 96 minutes.
Asked what had pleased him most about his game, Murray said: “Until right at the end of the match in the last three games I didn’t serve particularly well, but for the rest of the match I served well. I was getting a lot of free points there and I was serving a lot bigger than I had in the first round, which was good. He wasn’t able to attack my second serve like he tries to do. That was pretty positive.
“I also think I moved pretty well. Against guys that play a lot of drop shots and come forward you need to move well and I did that.”
The world No 1 was asked how pleased he was to have dropped only seven games in his first two matches. “It was against two guys who have tough game styles,” Murray said. “They’re not easy to read. I did pretty well.
“I concentrated on my own service games, which was positive, and I put a lot of returns back in play. I think that was very positive today. I returned a little bit better and didn’t give him too many free points on my serves, so it’s been a good start. Hopefully I can keep it going.”
Fognini, Murray’s next opponent, beat the Czech Republic’s Jiri Vesely 7-6, 6-4, 6-2. The Italian won his most recent meeting with Murray on clay in Rome two months ago, but on grass the Scot will be the clear favourite.
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