Andy Murray: Davis Cup doubles experience helped against Sam Groth

“Lleyton, thank you for everything you have done for tennis”.

“It’s nice to play against different game styles… he’s quite different in coming to the net a lot and trying to get forward at every opportunity”, Murray said. Very solid from the baseline.

Why? It’s a smart investment in his Grand Slam future.

Murray’s brother, Jamie, and his new partner, Bruno Soares, won their first-round match in the doubles, with one familiar face on the other side of the net.

Bernard Tomic, the No. 16 seed, beat Italy’s Simone Bolelli 6-4 6-2 6-7 7-5 and will now play 26-year-old John Millman, who beat Müller 4-6 6-4 6-2 4-6 7-5.

Stepanek took a 4-2 head-to-head edge into the match, although Wawrinka has now won their last three matches. It’s Djokovic’s favourite – but there are plenty of rivals for the Serb.

Fernando Verdasco, who beat fellow Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the first round, is out of the Australian Open in the second. He wins. He knows how to win matches.

“I took care of myself”, he said.

A nasty turn on his ankle in the final game left the Australian hobbling, but in truth he had been uncomfortable all afternoon as Murray wrapped up victory in a brisk hour and 31 minutes.

In his first match on Rod Laver Arena, Groth was dealt a bagel in the first set as a dominant Murray set the tone for the 6-0 6-4 6-1 result.

The four-time Australian Open finalist advanced to the third round for the eighth time.

Two-time champion Victoria Azarenka continued her near-faultless run yesterday, crushing Danka Kovinic 6-1, 6-2 in the second round. Groth recovered some pride with his mini recovery in the second set, but Murray quickly resumed control.

“Although in the next round those things will still be important, I’m aware that there’s going to be a lot of longer rallies and it’s about being more solid and consistent from the back of the court, so this time we’ll spend more time in practice working on groundstrokes”. “It keeps me focused”. I’ve dropped my serve once in the first two matches and I actually haven’t served that well so that’s positive.

Azarenka is seeded 14th but on form is shaping as Serena Williams’ biggest challenger at Melbourne Park. Murray also defeated his upcoming opponent at this stage in 2015 6-1, 6-1, 7-5.

He was one of eight Americans through to the second round at the Australian Open – the most since 2008.

The last of the second round matches – of the lower section of the draw – were played on Thursday, and unlike some of the shockers seen on the opening couple of days, there weren’t any surprises this time round.

Isner lost to Lopez in the third round in 2012.

Tournament organizers said the spectator was treated in the stadium before being taken by stretcher for observation and more treatment.

Play was suspended on Rod Laver Arena early Thursday when a spectator fell on a stairwell in the upper level of the 15,000-seat stadium.

“I remember in my first Grand Slam at Wimbledon in 2005, I played my third match on Centre Court there and it’s very different to playing on the outside courts, that’s for sure”.