Wimbledon 2017 LIVE: Andy Murray begins title defence with routine win over Alexander Bublik

GAME, SET AND MATCH MURRAY: That’s it. Murray has done it in straight sets on Centre Court.

Finishing with a flourish on his serve.

We saw some fine play from the World No. 1 at times today and he kept his concentration through two rain delays.

Bublik offered only signs of the form that earned him his first senior appearance at the All England Club.

Tougher tests will follow for Murray but he will be encouraged by this display.

BROKEN AGAIN: Bublik has lost his serve again to hand Murray the chance to clinch victory on his own serve.

A bad time to lose your concentration!

CLOSING ON VICTORY: Brilliant from Murray as he navigates another service game superbly.

At 4-2 in the third he needs just two more games to book a second round spot.

CLOSE SHAVE FOR MURRAY: Blimey, Bublik looks like a totally different player after the resumption of this match.

He made a real game of it there and pushed the Brit all the way to make him work to hold his serve.

A couple of very tight hawk eye decisions though went against him and Murray remains very much in charge of this one.

Bublik with a quick hold in response keeps the pressure on though and the score stands at 3-2 in the third, with the favourite to serve next.

STRONG FROM BUBLIK: The debutant looks refreshed after that rain delay.

A simple service game from him gets us back into the action in SW19. It’s 2-1 to Murray.

BACK IN BUSINESS (AGAIN): Hopefully that will be the last we see of those pesky covers for some time now and we can get this match finished.

Murray boasts a two-set lead and is already well in command of this third set.

There is surely no way back for the Russian on Centre Court from here. Here we go again.

COVERS BACK ON: Well that was ridiculous.

One game we managed before the covers were back on. Will we now see the roof closed?

There’s no blue sky overhead so one would assume rain will continue to fall.

BACK UNDERWAY: Back in business and normal service is resumed.

Murray picks up where he left off and moves 2-0 ahead in the third set.

COVERS OFF: No movement above my ahead with the roof and it appears we don’t need it.

The covers have come off. No sign of the players yet but surely they won’t be far behind.

That was a much quicker break than we all expected!

WE HAVE RAIN: Oh dear, just as Murray was about to run away with it and we have rain on Centre Court.

The covers are on now and presumably we will wait while the roof is closed.

Murray leads by two sets and broke Bublik in the opening game of the third and what looks likely to be final set of this match.

CRUCIAL BREAK: Could that be the key moment in this match?

Murray breaks in the opening game of this third set and his task is now simple.

Hold his serve for the remainder of the match and he is guaranteed a spot in round two.

SECOND SET MURRAY: Almost a disaster there. The World No. 1 had to survive break point and come back to close out the second set.

But he showed why he is a two-time champion here and emphatically finished the job to clinch the second.

Two sets clear and looking good for the top seed.

SPEEDY FROM THE FAVOURITE: No hanging around from Murray. That was fast.

He breezed through his latest service game to go 5-3 up and put the pressure back on Bublik.

Bublik responded with a hold to make Murray serve for the second set at 5-4.

ON SERVE: It’s a bit more of a contest now.

Bublik holds and we’re at 4-3 in the second set. Murray claimed the first with ease but he’s not having it all his own way now.

TRICKY MOMENT: A bit of a wobble there from Murray as that service game went the distance.

He needs a bit of a test though in this first round match to gear him up for the rest of the tournament.

Andy leads 4-2 in the second set.

BUBLIK BATTLING: A bit more impressive from the 20-year-old a hold his serve there for 3-2.

He has the ability to produce some excellent shots but needs a bit more consistency in his game.

A very marginal line call threatened to let another game slip away but he recovered.

Even a double fault to take it back to deuce didn’t phase him.

THREE AND EASY: Another hold of serve puts Murray 3-1 up in this second set.

Bublik still has all the bounce and enthusiasm of a man living out a dream here on Centre Court.

Sadly for his fans, he doesn’t have the power and accuracy to match!

Meanwhile, here’s someone with a very interesting talent…

PROFILES: We’re well into this match now but here’s another look at the two competitors.

We all know who Murray is, of course, but what about his opponent?

DEUCE HOLD FOR BUBLIK: He scraped through that game but gets the point on the board.

He’s off the mark in this second set.

That was a struggle though and it looks like an impossible task to come back from here.

HUGELY IMPRESSIVE: Fantastic stuff from Murray now.

He’s making this look easy and all that talk of an early exit seems baffling now.

It’s 2-0 to the Brit in the second set and looking like a routine win.

MOMENTUM: The Brit has carried momentum into this second set as he claims the opening game.

It really feels like rain here now but play continues.

GLIMPSE OF ROYALTY

TOP SEED TAKES FIRST SET: No shocks here then as Murray claims the opening set.

A couple of shaky moments but otherwise a fine showing from the world No. 1.

It’s looking a bit grey overhead here on Centre Court. Let’s hope a rain delay and roof closure doesn’t derail his progress!

LADY LUCK SHINES ON MURRAY: A touch of good fortune there gives Murray another break of serve on Centre Court.

The ball struck the net and dropped kindly to put us back at deuce, then a lovely winner from the Scot gave him advantage.

A successful challenge kept the pressure on the Wimbledon debutant and then Murray hit him hard to go 5-1 up and within a game of set one.

CONSOLIDATION: Murray finding his feet now.

He’s 4-1 up in the opening set as he consolidates the break.

You have to fear for Bublik if he continues like this.

FIRST BLOOD MURRAY: The first break in serve has gone in favour of the heavy favourite.

It will be interesting to see how Bublik responds here. Will he crack? Will he rally?

Testing times for the youngster but he showed some character in that game to at least save two break points before succumbing.

A double fault to hand Murray the advantage showed the strain.

BETTER FROM THE NO. 1: That was more like it from Andy.

The Brit is still finding his serve early on but a far more routine game there makes it 2-1 to the defending champion.

BUBLIK REGISTERS: It’s one-game all and all going on serve so far.

The underdog has his first game on the board. There was a challenge in there from Murray too but he held his nerve.

SHAKY START: Murray had a wake up call there and had to save two early break points.

We all know he hasn’t had the best couple of weeks with his injury and he looked a bit rusty there.

He will be hoping for easier service games than that later on. Anyway, first game to Murray.

UNDERWAY: Centre Court is packed. We’ve completed the warm ups and now the match is ready to begin.

Bublik is loving being on the big stage and was up and bouncing on the baseline long before Murray got out of his seat.

The Scot will kick us off here as he serves first.

FAMOUS FACES: Kate Middleton is just one of a number of big names to look out for in the Centre Court crowd.

The Duchess of Cambridge has been speaking with the ball boys and girls pre-match and will watch the action from the Royal Box.

BUBLIK’S VIEW: “You’re nervous every time you go on a big stage.

“I will be confident, anyway. I have nothing to lose.” Did he imagine he could win? “Why not? It’s what I’m playing tennis for.

“I hope it’s five sets, not in three. I guess I will get some show time there.

“That is my problem actually. I think if I could find a balance between making jokes and the show-offs and playing really consistent tennis then I am going to be a better player.

MURRAY’S VIEW: “I don’t feel like I’m coming in trying to defend something.

“I’m going out there trying to win Wimbledon again. I want to try to win the competition.

“Maybe it adds a little bit of extra pressure. Maybe a few more nerves, especially at this Slam with the way the scheduling is, that you’re the first one out there on Centre Court.

TRAINING PICTURES

OPPONENT: Murray is taking on 20-year-old Russian-born Kazakhstani Alexander Bublik today.

He only turned professional three years ago and this is his first appearance at the All England Lawn Tennis Club.

He is not expected to trouble the top seed.

BUILD-UP: Murray has had a turbulent few weeks as he prepares to defend his Wimbledon title.

The Scot suffered a shock first-round exit to Jordan Thompson, a lucky loser like his opponent this afternoon, at Queen’s – a competition he has won FIVE times in the past.

He is out to avoid another banana skin in SW19 when play gets underway shortly after 1pm in south west London.