Murray downplays injury fears

Murray was only three games from victory – then a straightforward hold made it two.

“It will be a very different match from today”. He said: “Sometimes we play for four or five hours and you’re drinking so many fluids, you can’t get rid of them altogether – what if someone needs to go? He does it all the time“, Andy Murray muttered when Novak Djokovic used some possible gamesmanship ploys in the Australian Open final.

The first match on Centre Court sees the Williams sisters do battle at SW19 yet again. Murray won the next six games to see out the clash, walloping down an ace on matchpoint as if to highlight just what a good job had been done on his stiffening joint. He had two break points immediately, and converted the second thanks to an unforced error from his opponent. Such were the problems he was suffering with his back in 2014, Murray had to adapt his ball toss for his serve, losing the power of his ex- style.

Taking treatment for a leg injury at 2-1, Seppi emerged unhindered and completely unrecognisable as a Murray second serve flew out and gave away the break.

The Briton raced out of the blocks, clinching an instant break in the opening game with a blistering forehand victor before raising the roof with another forehand, this time a passing shot that sailed past Seppi at the net.

Nevertheless, it seemed unlikely that Seppi would earn the chance to measure both scalps after Murray dominated the first set with a fast and furious start.

“Clearly he can hit angles on the court that I’m unable to hit obviously on the serve because he’s probably got an extra foot, foot and a half, of height there with the length of his arm and the racket”.

Murray, the 2013 champion, required a medical time-out for treatment on his right shoulder after dropping the first game of the fourth set.

After the match, Murray was clear he did not doubt that Seppi had been injured, saying: ‘Andreas isn’t like that.’ He also denied there had been any gamesmanship on his part and said he rarely calls for a time-out.

A love service game followed for the Brit, which was succeeded by two break points and, inevitably given his composure in these situations and current momentum, so did a break of serve. View image | gettyimages.com Murray overcame a shoulder complaint to beat Andreas Seppi 6-2, 6-2, 1-6, 6-1 in the third round…

Govortsova’s debut in the majors came eight years ago at Wimbledon, with this her 31st appearance in a main draw, and a 7-6 (7/4) 6-3 win against Slovakian Magdalena Rybarikova provided the 26-year-old with a career breakthrough.

“The physio came on the court and said it was like a machine gun going off when he laid on top of me”.

However, after Seppi called for the trainer early in the third set, the Italian won five games on the spin to secure the third stanza.

Tonight at Wimbledon, the British number one was tearing strips off Seppi until a calf injury of the Italian halted the play.