Andy Murray aims to avoid being on the wrong end of an upset against Liam Broady

28 June 2016 03:53

Andy Murray will hope British underdogs have had their day as he prepares to open his Wimbledon campaign against compatriot Liam Broady.

Marcus Willis' victory over Ricardas Berankis, a player ranked more than 700 places higher, was the stand-out story of day one and one of the best Wimbledon tales for many years.

Broady, a wild card ranked 235, cannot fail but to have been inspired by Willis' exploits, although, as a one-off match, his task is considerably more taxing.

Murray has not lost a first-round match at a grand slam since 2008 and has been a finalist at both the year's first two slams.

What can give 22-year-old Broady hope is how close Murray came to an upset in the opening round at the French Open.

He lost the first two sets against qualifier Radek Stepanek and at 5-5 in the fifth was two points from defeat. He then needed five sets again to see off wild card Mathias Bourgue in round two.

Although the world number two found his form to reach the final, his early exertions may well have played a part in defeat by Novak Djokovic.

Murray's supporters will hope such struggles are a thing of the past now Ivan Lendl is back on board as his coach.

Mum Judy, speaking to Press Association Sport on behalf of HSBC, said: "They had a good record together that culminated in Andy's two slams and the Olympic gold but I think there's a big reassurance for any player having an ex-player in their box that knows exactly what they're going through, that knows exactly how to prepare for a slam, how to prepare for each round.

"It's so much about the state of mind and I think that's the thing that Ivan is really good at. He knows you can't take your foot off the gas or your eye off what you're doing for a moment.

"If you do, you have to refocus instantly, and that's really what he was known for in his career, his single-minded ruthlessness."

Djokovic began his campaign with a 6-0 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 victory over Britain's James Ward, who recovered well after losing the first nine games, while Federer will play Willis following his straight-sets win against Guido Pella.

The only real upsets were defeats for Ana Ivanovic and Kevin Anderson, with French Open champion Garbine Muguruza surviving a tight three-setter against Italy's Camila Giorgi.

Dan Evans made it two home winners with a four-set victory over Jan-Lennard Struff but five other British players lost, including Laura Robson and Kyle Edmund.

Aside from Murray and Broady, 16th seed Johanna Konta, Heather Watson, Katie Swan, Tara Moore and Aljaz Bedene all begin their campaigns on Tuesday.

Women's top seed Serena Williams opens play on Centre Court against Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic.

Source: PA