Australian Open: Andy Murray eases into third round

Third-seeded Garbine Muguruza had a 6-4, 6-2 win over Kirsten Flipkens to reach the third round of the Australian Open for the third straight year.

Andy Murray believes his Davis Cup experience against Sam Groth helped him overcome the Australian in the pair’s first singles match. I played much better in the second round than the first.

The Scot continued: “Was I surprised he said it? It was a little bit awkward, kind of hanging there in the air, but I think we both played a decent match”.

Ana Ivanovic was left badly shaken Thursday when an elderly spectator fell on a flight of stairs during her third-round match at the Australian Open, delaying play for nearly 30 minutes as she received medical treatment. “I’ve never heard of anything directly at Challenger or Tour level”. And I thought “yeah, great”.

Groth boasts the fastest recorded serve in the world at 263 kilometres per hour and he announced ahead of the match he would go all-out attack against Murray with pace, power and serve and volley. If I don’t serve well against a guy (who) I know I have to have probably one of my best serving days against…

“Does he have a big serve? He can use different spins and stuff”, Murray said.

At the end of the contest, Murray departed the arena immediately, rather than doing a customary on-court interview.

‘I will have faced three very different players here, ‘ said Murray.

“There’s some things I certainly could have done better today”.

As Murray progresses, he is increasingly likely to face a semi-final with the 2014 victor Stan Wawrinka, particularly with Rafael Nadal no longer a potential quarter-final opponent for the Swiss star.

“He’s a good mover, a good athlete. He knows how to win”. “He understands the game well and he gets the most out of his game”.

American John Isner also was a straight-sets victor Thursday.

The five-time champion had just beaten 19-year-old French wild-card entry Quentin Halys 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (3) in the second round Wednesday night – his 34th win in his past 35 matches at Melbourne Park – when his news conference veered to questions about the issue that has overshadowed the start of the season’s first major. “It’s always good to be back”, Ivanovic said after the match.

“I really don’t count the games”.

Murray, for his part, was only too happy to showcase his finest weapons as he flicked over four brilliant lobs and punched away countless passes to lead 5-0.

The British number one played on apparently unaware that his father-in-law Nigel Sears had been taken to hospital after collapsing on Rod Laver Arena.

No. 18 Feliciano Lopez hit 97 winners in a 7-6 (2), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3), 6-7 (8), 6-4 victory against Guido Pella, advancing along with No. 21 Viktor Troicki, No. 23 Monfils, and No. 31 Steve Johnson. “There was a really good atmosphere out there”.

“I had a lot of great support. It was pretty loud even for a smaller court”. “It’s only the second round, so I need to rise and be ready for the next one”.

Konta has a decent draw in playing world No 66 Denisa Allertova of the Czech Republic, who upset former Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki.

Azarenka came into the tournament on the back of winning the Brisbane International and she was again untouchable against Kovinic with the 54th-ranked Montenegrin no match for the ferocious all-court game of a player now fit and healthy.