Wildcard Ward joins Murray in Wimbledon third round

Bedene and James Ward both claimed late wins on Tuesday, to join Andy Murray and Liam Broady as Britain boasted four men in Wimbledon’s second round for the first time since 2006.

The 28-year-old Ward broke new ground on Thursday, securing a gritty 6-2, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3 win against world No. 45 Jiri Vesely to make it through to the last 32 for the first time in his career.

The partisan Court 12 crowd saw a few nice plays from the newly naturalised British passport holder, but it is Troicki, who missed last year’s tournament while serving a one-year suspension for failing to provide a blood sample for anti-doping testing, who advances. No boundary here is sacred now.

Arsenal fan Ward had his wobbles but buried more than he skied – especially in shaking off the failure to convert six break points in the eighth match of the second set – to book a third-round tie with either Vasek Pospisil or Fabio Fognini.

Murray, however, remains the kingpin of the British game.

Andy Murray took out Robin Haase with his racquet and the Duchess of Cornwall with his sweatband as he stormed into the third round at Wimbledon.

Kyle Edmund’s wait to break into the world’s top 100 goes on after the young Briton slipped out of Wimbledon, with Alexandr Dolgopolov victorious 7-6 (7/4) 6-1 6-2. “He just needs to find a way to do it on a weekly basis”, Murray said.

“After here, he has quite a lot of points to defend”.

Ward has a tendency to blame injuries for setbacks a little too often, though the timing of this victory revealed very real courage because the walls have been closing in on him.

“He’s won a couple of good matches”.

“It’s just knowing that I can last over five sets and play at a good level against top players”. Vesely is a tough opponent. It was a good win for him. “He has an opportunity again in the third round”.

But he was thrilled to learn of Ward’s progress, saying: “I’m delighted for him”.

“The Duchess opened up her bag and my wristband was in there, so he obviously had given it to her”.

Many dismissed the challenge of Mikhail Kukushkin when the draw was made, but it quickly became evident that Murray would have to remain focused to overcome the world number 58, who had taken a set off Rafael Nadal in 2014.

Vesely had other ideas, romping to the third set but calling for the trainer twice – the man who defeated Gael Monfils at SW19 a year ago was in clear discomfort.

“Winning in the third round would probably be like Arsenal winning the league next year to be honest”, said Ward. But let’s think about Saturday first.’.

Ward and Murray have an interest in the north London club, Ward’s driven by birth – he is the son of a Euston cab driver – Murray’s by an admiration for their football.

“He’s just a good friend above all”.