Djokovic, Murray make winning starts at Wimbledon

Top seed Novak Djokovic and British holder Andy Murray mowed down opponents with minimal effort as two of the men's title tips began with easy victories Monday at the Wimbledon Championships.

Andy Murray of Britain returns to David Goffin of Belgium in their first round match during the Wimbledon Championships. Photo by  EPA/VALDRIN XHEMAJ
Andy Murray of Britain returns to David Goffin of Belgium in their first round match during the Wimbledon Championships. Photo by EPA/VALDRIN XHEMAJ

Djokovic shrugged off worries over wrist pain to crush Kazakh Andrey Golubev 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 while third seed Murray began the defence of his trophy with a workman-like win over Belgian David Goffin 6-1, 6-4, 7-5.

"It was a great start, especially in the first two sets," said Djokovic, who all but denied that his wrist had been troubling him in the lead-up to the grass-court major.

It was a credit to the Serb that he played well in the third.

"This was a great start for me, I cannot be much happier with my first match on grass, especially after not having played any warm-ups.

"I had no matches under my belt. I had to be extra careful, but I played a great match. I've had more than enough time to recover from the French Open final. I'm feeling well and comfortable on the court."

Murray, who admitted to a case of weekend nerves, spent just over two hours in a command performance on Centre Court, fulfilling his role as the champion beginning the fortnight of play.

Murray, seeded third, called the effort a "very high standard match", as he won on his eighth ace. The Scot broke four times and fired 28 winners in victory.

"The start was a bit nervous but we played some great rallies in the second and third sets," said Murray, who will next face Blaz Rola after the Slovenian beat Spain's Pablo Andujar 6-3, 6-1, 6-4.

"I was glad to finish in three sets. He was playing very well. I'm happy with the way I struck the ball today, it was a good start," said Murray.

"I had a lot of memories walking onto this court, good ones and bad ones. It was nice to come out to a full crowd."

Sixth seed Tomas Berdych, the 2010 finalist at the All England Club, recovered from a slow start to advance past Romanian Victor Hanescu 6-7 (5-7), 6-1, 6-4, 6-3.

Seventh seed David Ferrer beat fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-0, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 6-1 while 11th-seeded Queen's winner Grigor Dimitrov beat US qualifier Ryan Harrison 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, 6-2.

French Open semi-finalist Ernests Gulbis, the number 12, defeated Estonian Jurgen Zopp in a battle of the Baltics, 7-6 (9-7), 7-5, 7-6 (12-10).

In the women's draw on a dry opening day, China's second seed Li Na led the way for top players as she beat Pole Paula Kania 7-5, 6-2. The 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova hammered Czech Andrea Hlavackova 6-3, 6-0.

Former number one Victoria Azarenka, the eighth seed, won as she played her second grass match of the season after coming back from months away with a foot injury.

Italian 12th seed Flavia Pennetta put out Jana Cepelova 6-2, 6-3.