Andy Murray vs Alexander Bublik - as it happened: World No 1 beats youngster in straight sets
Re-live coverage of Murray's first round match on Centre Court
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Your support makes all the difference.In keeping with tradition, defending champion Andy Murray begins the defence of his title at 1pm on Centre Court.
On paper, he should have little trouble with lucky loser Alexander Bublik, ranked 134, but Murray has been struggling with a hip problem.
Bublik, meanwhile, is renowned for trick shots and has the confidence to make it an occasion.
Follow game by game coverage of Murray's opening match.
When is Murray playing?
The World No 1 and defending Wimbledon champion begins his 2017 campaign on Centre Court at half one, today.
Who is he playing?
Murray will play Alexander Bublik, a 20-year-old Kazakh currently ranked 135th in the world.
Our man Paul Newman sat down with him before the tournament for a revealing interview, which took in everything from his love of Eminem to how he finds Roger Federer boring.
What have they been saying?
Andy Murray: “The last few days have been very good,” he said. “Practice each day has got a little bit better. It's been slightly stop-start preparations, but each day I've felt better.
“A little bit like at the French Open, where maybe I didn't come in as well-prepared, I still found a way with each match to feel a bit better and built confidence each day, so I'm hoping that's the case here.
He's obviously a big personality and not a quiet guy. From what I've heard, he's pretty entertaining on the court in terms of the way he plays, how he is. He’s quite unorthodox.
“He plays a lot of unexpected shots, a lot of drop shots, mixes his game up a lot, takes chances, tries shots that guys may play in exhibitions.”
Alexander Bublik: “My game is unpredictable. I don’t even know what I’m going to do. I decide when the ball is coming, I decide right before I hit. I don’t have a plan. I serve wide then I play cross-court. I serve wide then a drop-shot or a lob, whatever.”
What are the odds?
Andy Murray to win: 1/33
Alexander Bublik to win: 14/1
And who will the winner play next?
Either Joao Sousa or Dustin Brown.
Robson exits
Laura Robson is out of Wimbledon at the first-round stage after a straight-sets defeat by Beatriz Haddad Maia (6-4 6-2).
Murray's title defence set to begin
Andy Murray and Alexander Bublik walked out onto Centre Court a few minutes ago and their first-round match will get underway shortly.
Murray 1-0 Bublik* (*denotes next server)
Murray fends off two early break points to hold in the opening game of the match.
Murray 2-1 Bublik* (*denotes next server)
Like in Murray's opening service game, Bublik wins the first point - but the Brit claims the next four to hold with ease.
A missed tweener from the Bublik racket, a volleyed winner by Murray and two unreturnable serves put the defending champion 2-1 up.
Murray* 5-1 Bublik (*denotes next server)
Bublik fires a backhand into the net before rifling down two unreturnable serves to go 30-15 up. Murray then wins a game of cat and mouse at the net before a superb lob sets up an easy volley to bring up another break point. Bublik wins the next two points behind a couple of big serves before another double fault brings the game back to deuce. The Russian hits a forehand winner to bring up game point but Murray hauls the game back to deuce after a net cord works in his favour to give him an easy put away. A superb running backhand up the line by Murray brings up break point and he takes it with a forehand winner to move 5-1 up in the opening set.
Murray* 6-1 2-1 Bublik (*denotes next server)
With the scores level at deuce Murray is handed another break point opportunity by a Bublik double fault but he can't take it, as his deft backhand approach goes wide. The Brit misses another forehand approach to put Bublik within a point of the game. The Russian sends a backhand wide to take the game back to deuce but a sumptuous drop shot followed by a service winner get him on the scoreboard in this second set.
Murray 6-1 4-2 Bublik* (*denotes next server)
A groundstroke exchange ends with Bublik forcing an error from Murray to move 0-15 up on the Scot's serve. But Murray wrestles back the initiative with a superb forehand passing shot before sending down a couple of unreturnable serves to bring up two game points. Murray squanders them both before delivering another pair of unreturnable serves to hold for a 4-2 lead in the second set.
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