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As it happenedended

Andy Murray vs Alexander Bublik - as it happened: World No 1 beats youngster in straight sets

Re-live coverage of Murray's first round match on Centre Court

Liam Corless
Monday 03 July 2017 13:55 BST
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Murray in action on Centre Court against Bublik
Murray in action on Centre Court against Bublik (Getty )

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In keeping with tradition, defending champion Andy Murray begins the defence of his title at 1pm on Centre Court.

On paper, he should have little trouble with lucky loser Alexander Bublik, ranked 134, but Murray has been struggling with a hip problem.

Bublik, meanwhile, is renowned for trick shots and has the confidence to make it an occasion.

Follow game by game coverage of Murray's opening match.

When is Murray playing?

The World No 1 and defending Wimbledon champion begins his 2017 campaign on Centre Court at half one, today.

Who is he playing?

Murray will play Alexander Bublik, a 20-year-old Kazakh currently ranked 135th in the world.

Our man Paul Newman sat down with him before the tournament for a revealing interview, which took in everything from his love of Eminem to how he finds Roger Federer boring.

What have they been saying?

Murray is expected to progress
Murray is expected to progress (Getty)

Andy Murray: “The last few days have been very good,” he said. “Practice each day has got a little bit better. It's been slightly stop-start preparations, but each day I've felt better.

“A little bit like at the French Open, where maybe I didn't come in as well-prepared, I still found a way with each match to feel a bit better and built confidence each day, so I'm hoping that's the case here.

He's obviously a big personality and not a quiet guy. From what I've heard, he's pretty entertaining on the court in terms of the way he plays, how he is. He’s quite unorthodox.

“He plays a lot of unexpected shots, a lot of drop shots, mixes his game up a lot, takes chances, tries shots that guys may play in exhibitions.”

Bublik has a slender frame and doesn't enjoy slugging it out on court (Getty )
Bublik has a slender frame and doesn't enjoy slugging it out on court (Getty ) (Getty)

Alexander Bublik: “My game is unpredictable. I don’t even know what I’m going to do. I decide when the ball is coming, I decide right before I hit. I don’t have a plan. I serve wide then I play cross-court. I serve wide then a drop-shot or a lob, whatever.”

What are the odds?

Andy Murray to win: 1/33
Alexander Bublik to win: 14/1

And who will the winner play next?

Either Joao Sousa or Dustin Brown.

Cilic cruises through

Marin Cilic, the men's seventh seed, is through after a straight-sets win (6-4 6-2 6-3) over the tricky Philipp Kohlschreiber,

The Croat will play Florian Mayer in the second round on Wednesday.

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 17:37

Bedene and Karlovic into a second tiebreak

Briton Aljaz Bedene and Ivo Karlovic are into a second-set tiebreak on Court Three. Karlovic won the first set on a tiebreak.

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 17:44

Britons Konta and Watson in action

Jo Konta and Heather Watson, Great Britain's top two women's players, are both currently in action at SW19.

Sixth seed Konta is taking on Su-Wei Hsieh on Court One, while Watson is taking on Belgium's Maryna Zanevska on Court Two. 

It's been a good start for both women, with Konta leading 2-1 with a break and Watson leading 5-0 with two breaks. 

Naomi Broady, the British No 3, has also just come out onto court. She's playing Irina Begu on Court 14.

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 18:05

Cibulkova through by the skin of her teeth

Dominika Cibulkova, the women's eighth seed, is into the second round after avoiding a huge upset against Germany's Andrea Petkovic on Court 12.

The Slovakian needed two hours and 45 minutes to win 6-3 3-6 9-7.

Awaiting her in the second round on Wednesday is Jennifer Brady of the United States.

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 18:17

Broady drops opening set

Briton's Jo Konta and Heather Watson are both a set to the good but Naomi Broady's position in her match against Irina Begu is less positive.

She's lost the opening set 6-4.

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 18:44

Karlovic leads Bedene in serve-athon

Ivo Karlovic leads Briton Aljaz Bedene by two sets to one after three sets that have all gone to tie-breaks.

There have been no breaks of serve so far in the match. 

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 18:48

Watson progresses after tight tie-break

Heather Watson holds it together to win the second-set tie-break against Maryna Zanevska and reach the second round.

A gutsy 6-1 7-6 victory from the British No 2.

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 19:17

Bedene and Karlovic into another tie-break

Aljaz Bedene and Ivo Karlovic are currently contesting the fourth tie-break of their first-round match.

There have been no breaks of serve in the encounter for 48 consecutive regular games.

Karlovic currently leads by two sets to one.

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 19:45

Wawrinka broken in fourth set

Stan Wawrinka has been broken in the fourth game of the fourth set and is just two games away from a surprise loss to the 49th-ranked 21-year-old Daniil Medvedev.

Medvedev leads the fifth seed by two sets to one and by four games to one in the fourth set.

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 19:49

Johnson progresses

Steve Johnson, the 26th seed from the United States, is through to the second round after a straight-sets win over Argentine Nicolas Kicker.

Ed Malyon3 July 2017 20:27

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