Andy Murray and Serena Williams dazzled to breeze past Fabrice Martin and Raquel Atawo and advance (7-5, 6-3) to the third round of the mixed doubles at Wimbledon
After Johanna Konta’s meek loss to Barbora Strycova ended British hopes in the singles, Centre Court, like a deflated bouncy castle, required blowing up again, and ‘SerAndy’ did just that.
Williams, who had scurried back from her gruelling quarter-final victory over Alison Riske just a few hours earlier, resumed her blossoming partnership with the SW19 favourite.
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The American immediately took an imposing position at the net and began to swat away anything that remotely lingered within her range. There was incedible venom on her smashes and one rebounded off Martin, who did well to hide the stinging effect with a forced grin.
The quartet were collectively providing a treat for the fans though, with lengthy rallies seeing the ball ricocheting all over Centre Court like a pinball machine.
Martin’s chopping backhand volley at the net was proving especially effective and the Frenchman and his American partner ensured the tension in a gripping first set built as they held to level at four games apiece.
Williams’ vigour refused to dim in her second match of the day, in fact she appeared to be relishing the test against Martin’s booming serve, fending off a 138 mph bullet and turning it into a sublime winner.
Murray’s astuteness flipped the first set though, successfully challenging a razor-thin out call. And Centre Court erupted shortly after after Williams hurled a cross-court forehand to secure the first set.
Williams’ geometric brilliance began to show and inspired the first break of the second set. And a clinic in serving nudged ‘SerAndy’ further ahead as they tightened their grip on the match at 3-0.
Martin and Atawo dug in to extend the gripping contest that was more fiercely competitive than the eventual score, but the new favourites of SW19 marched on.
Next up for Williams and Murray will be No 1 seeds Bruno Soares and Nicole Melichar in the third round as they battle to contain the home crowd’s hopes at this year’s Championships.
