The danger this week was that much of it was frivolously spent admiring Andy Murray. It has been difficult to avoid. Less downbeat, a game that's dinging along, straight sets wins all the way and he even rescued a spooked dog in traffic. They couldn't love him any harder.
But Murray's championship game is also there to like, his singing ground strokes and natural aggression on court a continuing counterpoint to the gentle, pensive expressions of Amélie Mauresmo in his coach's box. Last night was another orgy of enchantment and ardour on Centre Court, heightened by Murray's total domination of the 23 ranked player, Robert Bautista Agut. By 7.30pm and midway through the second set the Spaniard might have thought he had chosen sports unwisely.
Soaring domination
Murray had hurried through the first set 6-2, serenely bullying the match. Agut dropped two service games in the second set, took one back from Murray for 5-3 but as if to demonstrate his soaring domination, Murray immediately broke Agut for the second set, charging the net and calmly putting away a backhand volley for 2-0.
An early break of serve in the third for 2-0 not so much signalled danger but confirmed Murray was in the middle of a cameo showpiece with Agut struggling to win points even on his serve.
The only mild concern centred around whether the world number five was too good seven days early but churlish thoughts seemed misplaced after a scorching performance.
His 2-0 advantage in the third set became a 4-0. Agut’s head dropped. The crowd felt it but they’ve seen too many local hopes being crushed in years past and any sympathy was thin as Murray continued the schooling.
It was not perfection as the defending champion permitted himself a third set drop in concentration Agut took what he could there to tidy up the score and slow down the ever-hasty exit. It finally fell 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, a wide Murray forehand sending the ball into the covers and Agut skidding onto his back in the lush grass. The Scot meets South Africa's Kevin Anderson in the fourth round. "Tough opponent," he said of Anderson. "He's playing the best tennis of his career, he's made improvements this and he's a big guy with a big game."
Far from elated
Satisfied with but far from elated, Murray expects more severe trials ahead. “He fights extremely hard. It’s good to get it done in straight sets,” he said of Agut. “He’s the best opponent I’ve played and he’s seeded. Yeah it was a step up. You are going to get tested at some point in these events. You’ve just got to be mentally ready.”
As the well-oiled title holder reinforced his close relationship with the Centre Court and its crowd, Novak Djokovic had surrendered himself to the doctors in his camp. During his three set win over Gilles Simon, he fell and tumbled onto his left shoulder, immediately dropping his racquet and clasping the arm.
After a medical time out was called the top seed played on to finish the match. At that point he was two sets ahead and 3-2 up in the third set. But he required the full time out and medical attention before continuing.
“When I stood up, I felt that click or pop. I feared it might be a dislocated shoulder, or joint problem. Lucky for me the impact had a minor effect on the joint. But no damage. I just came from the doctor’s office. Ulstrasound. It’s looking good.”
Djokovic faces the dangerous Jo-Wilfred Tsonga, who won 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 against Taipei's Jimmy Wang. Tsonga, twice a semifinalist here, can be a mood player and lethally good. Djokovic knows it."I don't fear anything," he said.
