TENNIS WIMBLEDON 2014 – Andy Murray started his title defence with a convincing win in three sets over Belgian World Number 105 David Goffin with 6-1 6-4 7-5 in the inaugural match of the famous Wimbledon Centre Court. Diego Sampaolo
Results, Order of Play, Draws and Interviews from The Championships
The Wimbledon defending champion received the standing ovation from the crowd when he entered the Wimbledon Centre Court to play the inaugural match of the third Grand Slam of the year twelve months after his win over Novak Djokovic in the 2013 Final. Among the crowd there were Andy’s mother Judy, his new coach and former Wimbledon champion Amelie Mauresmo, his father Will watching from the Royal Box and his grandparents Roy and Shirley.
Murray, the first British player to defend the Wimbledon title since Fred Perry won for the third time in 1936, did not let down the crowd playing a solid match in three sets over David Goffin. They played their first ever head-to-head match.
Goffin has never played well on grass and was knocked out in the first round last year against Jo Wilfred Tsonga in the All-England Club.
Murray got off to a good start holding serve in the opening game before breaking serve in the second game to take a 2-0 lead and held serve to back up the break to cruise to 3-0. Goffin won the fourth game but Murray cruised to 4-1 after 22 minutes. Murray hit a backhand winner and a forehand lob to get a second break before serving out for the first set for a easy 6-1 in just 29 minutes.
Goffin sent a forehand wide to drop serve in the third game of the second set. Murray held serve to pull away to 3-1. The rest of the second set went on serve until Murray served for the second set at 5-4. The Scotsman hit an ace to win the tenth game to love in just 71 minutes.
Murray faced a stiffer test in the third set when Goffin showed a glimpse of his talent. However he could not capitalize a break point chance at 15-40 in the fourth game when he hit a drop shot into the net before Murray hit a forehand winner.
At 5-all Goffin dropped five consecutive points from a 40-0 lead with a double fault to drop serve for 5-6. Murray hit a forehand volley wide to go down 0-30 while he was serving for the match. Three points later he hit his eighth ace to seal the win on his first match point.
Murray hit 28 winners to 10 unforced errors and won 85 % of his first serve points. He converted on four of his eight break point chances. On the contrary Goffin hit 31 winners to 28 unforced errors and won 64% of first serve points but he could not convert any of his two break point chances.
Murray will face Slovenian Blaz Rola who beat Pablo Andujar in three sets
“I was glad to finish the match in three sets. Sometimes you can win in three sets and not play that well but I am pleased with the way I struck the ball. I was nervous this morning and I was nervous last night but once you sit down on the chair it’s time to get on with this year.”
