Murray’s staying focused on Wimbledon glory

Andy Murray can be guaranteed to take one match at a time but there is no escaping the fact that the world No.2 has become the clear favourite to win Wimbledon.

Andy Murray celebrates his win over John Millman of Australia. Picture: HANNAH MCKAY

TENNIS: Andy Murray can be guaranteed to take one match at a time over the next week but there is no escaping the fact that the world No.2 has become the clear favourite to win Wimbledon.

While Murray was easing to a 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 third-round victory over Australia’s John Millman on Centre Court, the Scot’s greatest rival, Novak Djokovic, was beaten by Sam Querrey on Court One in the most unexpected grand slam result of the year so far.

Murray will next play either Australian Nick Kyrgios or Feliciano Lopez.

The Australian and the Spaniard were set to resume their third-round match overnight after play was halted because of fading light shortly after 9pm on Saturday with the score at one set apiece.

While Murray is seen by the bookmakers as the man to beat over the next eight days, the Scot insists that Djokovic’s defeat will have no impact on his thinking.

“If I was to reach the final, then it may have some bearing, but it doesn’t right now,” he said.

“My draw’s still exactly the same. The matches, in the next round especially, are tough. Nick and Feli are both very, very good grass-court players.

“The bookies don’t always get it right.

“They made a few mistakes over the last few weeks across a number of different things.

“Your job is to go out there and try to win the matches that are there in front of you.”

With Rafael Nadal absent because of injury and Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka out of the tournament, Murray and Roger Federer are the only two top-five players left in the men’s singles.

Murray had won all 17 of his previous grand slam matches against Australians and from the moment he broke Millman at the first attempt that run never looked like ending.

The world No 67, who was appearing in the third round here for the first time, had his moments, especially when he broke serve as Murray served for the second set at 5-4, but for the most part the Scot was simply too good for him.

Millman, who had lost his only previous meeting with Murray three years ago in his home city of Brisbane, went 3-0 down in just seven minutes and lost the first set 26 minutes later. However, the Australian fared better after the rain breaks at the start of the second set as the contest became much closer.

Murray failed to take two set points when Millman served at 5-3 and was broken two games later. That came after a change of ends at 5-4 during which the crowd roared when Djokovic’s result was flashed up on the scoreboard.

The Scot admitted afterwards that the news of the world No 1’s defeat had registered with him as Millman broke when Murray served for the second set.

He regrouped, broke back and won the set at the second time of asking before storming through the third.

with INM