Wimbledon: Serena Williams and Andy Murray have made
their way into the second round of 2016 Wimbledon Open Women’s and Men’s
singles respectively.
On Tuesday, defending champion Serena Williams reached
the Wimbledon second round with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Amra
Sadikovic as her mother watched from the front row of the Royal Box. The
34-year-old world number one, chasing a seventh Wimbledon title and
record-equalling 22nd major, took her Grand Slam career record in first rounds
to a formidable 63 wins against just one defeat.
She next faces fellow American Christina McHale for a
place in the last 32. “My mom was up there in the Royal Box, so that was nice,”
said the American star after giving mother Oracene Price an afternoon to
remember on Centre Court. “I will have to get my dad out here now.” Williams
claimed victory over world number 148 Sadikovic on a second match point
courtesy of a successful Hawk-Eye challenge.
“I never underestimate any opponent. I always expect
the best of myself,” added Williams, who won 12 straight points at the start of
the match to open a 3-0 lead. However, not everyone gave her the royal seal of
approval. “It was one of the worst serving efforts I’ve seen from Serena. This
is what is giving other players hope,” said US legend John McEnroe,
commentating for the BBC. Meanwhile, Andy Murray made a flying start to his bid
for a second Wimbledon title as the world number two crushed British wildcard
Liam Broady 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday.
Murray has lost successive Grand Slam finals to Novak
Djokovic this year, but the 2013 Wimbledon champion believes he can end that
frustrating run now he is reunited with coach Ivan Lendl after a two-year
hiatus in their partnership.
After world number one Djokovic, the Wimbledon
champion for the last two years, cruised past Britain’s James Ward to open his
campaign on Monday, Murray was in equally ruthless mood 24 hours later.
Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios was back in trouble on his return to Wimbledon as the
Australian rowed with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and told his entourage to get out
during a stormy 6-4, 6-3, 6-7 (9/11), 6-1 win over Czech veteran Radek
Stepanek.
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