Andy Murray won. Three sets, he schooled a fellow Brit Liam Broady, 235 in the world. It was all smiles and one way traffic. Iceland against England except Roy Hodgson metaphorically keeps his job.
Nick Kyrgios, he won too against Radek Stepanek, two mavericks, the Czech wildcard slowed progress in the third set but fell 6-4, 6-3, 7-6, 6-1.
Before the match even began on number two court the umpire dutifully told Australian Kyrgios to “mind your language and keep hold of your racquets.”
Unfairly targeting a reputation or a touch of rugby style refereeing, where they warn players not to commit a foul just before they do. It was a rugby ‘hands off the ball’ moment.
“I’m not going to answer that question. Next question,” said Kyrgios. At the end of the third set the Australian had a word with the umpire.
“Yes,” said Kyrgios smiling. “We’re good...we’re not good...I’m pretty sure we’ve all said it (word) in this room.” A crowd pleaser he is still alive and dangerous and in Murray’s half of the draw where a third round meeting is possible. But first there is the uncompromising, entertainment first, Rasta German player.
“It’ a circus. But it’s good. It’s good.” said Kyrgios of his meeting with Brown. He’s right. It is and it will be.
Juan Del Potro. John McEnroe pronounces it Poe-Trow, people in London Pot-Tro. Easily forgotten the big Argentine is back in Wimbledon for the first time since 2013 after serious wrist injury and multiple comebacks.
The 2009 US Open champion, he tumbled down the rankings and settled in a heap at 581 at the end of 2015. That was from a career high of fifth in the world in 2013, when he made the semifinal at Wimbledon.
He rifled through his match in straight sets, 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 against Frenchman Stephane Robert where many more first round meetings around the grounds were abandoned as the rain predictably hit late afternoon.
“This is my comeback after three years,” said del Potro. “I’m expecting to be better in the future, but for this year my biggest challenge could be finish healthy and ready to make a good preparation for the next year.
“I’m feeling better week by week. I wake up and I set my practice and I do it. That’s important for my mind, as well, because I’m not thinking about treatments or injuries or doctors or nothing like that. Just want to play free.”
Swiss Stan Wawrinka and Taylor Fritz made quite a pair on court number one. 'Stanimal' and 'Fritz Carlton' as they are known was teenage Californian surfer against the North face of the Eiger.
Fritz finished his schooling and has never won a title with his fulltime tennis career starting at the beginning of this year. At 6’4 and 18-years-old, he has a certain future but he was never going to scale the mountain.
Even for an erratic fourth seed, Wawrinka wrapped it up in four sets in less than two and a half hours.
