Andy Murray has claimed his first win since returning from a hip injury, trouncing fellow three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka 6-1 6-3 in the first round of the Eastbourne championships.
Andy Murray Photo: Photosport
An unlikely clash on the sun-baked south coast between two wildcards ranked 156th and 225th respectively was not much of a contest but was hugely significant for Murray as he tested his fitness for next week's Wimbledon.
Having lost to Australian Nick Kyrgios in the first round of last week's Queen's Club tournament -- his first match for almost a year -- Murray took a late entry into Eastbourne to put his hip through another examination.
The Scot looked hugely relieved when Wawrinka, himself trying to get back up to speed after knee surgery, double-faulted to end the one hour 17 minute contest in front of a sell-out crowd on centre court.
It was his first match win since he beat Benoit Paire in the last 16 of Wimbledon 350 days ago before he hobbled out against American Sam Querrey to end his Wimbledon title defence.
He had hip surgery in January and has been in a race against time to be fit for Wimbledon.
Murray was secure on serve, saving three break points at 4-3 in the second set, and there were some flashes of brilliance such as one running forehand pass early in the second set.
He sounded a note of caution afterwards, however, saying the real proof of his fitness would be how his body responds against new British number one and Eastbourne second seed Kyle Edmund in an intriguing clash.
"I am going to decide nearer the time (about Wimbledon). I need to see how my body pulls up. I'll see how I am tomorrow and take it from there," Murray said before heading to the ice bath.
At the same tournament, New Zealand doubles player Michael Venus and South African partner Raven Klaasen won through to the second round, but Artem Sitak and Indian partner Divij Sharan were beaten by the top seeds.
The other Kiwi in the draw, Marcus Daniell, starts his campaign tonight with Dutch partner Wesley Koolhof.
-Reuters/RNZ
