Andy Murray has progressed through to the second round at Wimbledon after he defeated Benjamin Becker in straight sets.
The opening set was an even affair, before Murray broke serve in the final game to take the initiative in the match.
Becker continued to play some solid tennis, but the US Open champion was able to up his game on the crucial points to move one set away from the last 64.
The world number one's confidence grew in the third, breaking Becker's serve twice, and he finally sealed a 6-4 6-3 6-2 triumph in just under two hours.
Read below to see how the match unfolded on centre court at Wimbledon.
Hello, and welcome to Sports Mole's coverage of the opening round encounter between Benjamin Becker and Andy Murray at Wimbledon.
The first day at this illustrious tournament is well underway, but this is the moment that the British supporters have been waiting for. The world number two is making his way out onto centre court to a deafening ovation.
Murray comes into Wimbledon after a successful return from injury at Queen's, where he ousted Marin Cilic in three sets in the final. He also faced today's opponent in the last eight, coming away with a 6-4 7-6 triumph.
Many of you will be familiar with the background of the Brit, but probably not so with Benjamin Becker. The 32-year-old from Germany is currently ranked number 92 in the ATP world rankings, but he hasn't enjoyed a very fruitful 2013, picking up just five victories.
Before we get going, I will bring you a quick update of the day's headlines so far. Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova have safely progressed through to the last 64, and they were joined by Victoria Azarenka. However, she suffered a huge scare when she suffered a knee injury midway through her match with Maria Joao Koehler, which required 10 minutes of treatment, before sealing a 6-1 6-2 win.
The players are ready to get us started. It will be Andy Murray to serve first.
Murray takes the opening point of the match when Becker goes long, before the Scot nets a forehand. The German has started really well, and he takes the initiative with a booming forehand down the line. Murray receives a let-off when Becker fails to return a second serve, but he brings up break point after an error from the Scot. However, that is promptly saved, and Murray comes through the game. Impressive from Becker, though.
It should be noted from the start that Becker has a decent serve on him, and although he loses the first point, he flies through the game, finishing off with the first ace of the contest.
Murray begins his second service game in much more confident fashion, hitting a forehand winner from inside the court, but Becker is going for his shots to reduce the deficit to 30-15, before a double fault from the Brit levels things up. However, Murray recovers to take the game when Becker sends a second serve wide of the tramlines.
BREAK! Murray hasn't looked that explosive from the back of the court so far, but he moves 0-30 ahead with a topspin forehand into the left-hand corner of the court. Becker gets back to 30-30 with an ace, but a poor approach shot from the German allows Murray to fire a passing shot down the line. Becker then drives the ball into the net on break point, and it's Murray who strikes the first blow.
The British number one strolls into a 40-0 lead, courtesy of an ace either side of two Becker errors. A forehand mistake from Murray gifts his opponent a point, but his second ace seals the game.
Becker falls 0-15 behind when Murray finds the line with a forehand, before an immaculate drop shot just clears the net for 0-30. A blistering forehand gets Becker back into the game, but Murray brings up two break points when a backhand clips the net and drops over. The German saves both, though, and he sees out the game when Murray goes long twice in succession. Somewhat of a missed opportunity for the 26-year-old.
BREAK! Murray has taken his foot off the gas a little, and it's given Becker plenty of encouragement. He drives a forehand winner from the back of the court before bringing up two break points when Murray nets. A flat forehand saves the first, but Becker breaks back when Murray commits his second double fault. Sloppy.
The eighth game of the match begins with two lengthy exchanges, and it's Murray who comes out on top in both of them. Becker takes the third, but Murray misses a chance for two break points when he goes wide with a backhand. This has been a fine recovery from Becker, and he levels the match at 4-4 with a super drop shot that Murray has no answer to.
Murray's knows that he is in a game here, and he ups his intensity with three simple, but effective, points to move 40-0 ahead. However, Becker is matching Murray for power out there, and it forces the Scot into two successive errors. Murray survives though, with a perfectly-placed ace down the middle.
BREAK AND SET! Becker takes the opening point, but two errors gift Murray 15-30, and the Scot is two points away from the first set. The German shows tremendous defensive ability to avoid going two sets point down, but Murray has set point when Becker sends a forehand into the net. Becker shows immense power on his forehand side to save it, but Murray clips the line with a forehand of his own for a second opportunity, and he takes it when Becker goes long.
It's important from here onwards for Murray to keep his level of intensity up, but after sharing the first four points, he dumps a shot into the net and it is break point from Becker. However, the US Open champion responds with an ace. After they move to the third deuce, Becker creates another chance, but again, a strong first serve gets Murray out of trouble and he seals the opening game of the second set. It's all happening on court one, where Rafael Nadal has fallen two sets and a break behind to Steve Darcis!
Murray takes the first point, but Becker responds by applying pressure to the Scot to move ahead in the game. A one-two combination off his first serve moves the German to game point, before a stunning drop shot clips the line and we move to 1-1.
There's a feeling that Becker is probably playing at a level where he isn't going to get much better, and probably won't last for the entire match. Murray is much more solid during this love-service game, taking control of each point. Interesting moment there with the Nadal score being shown to centre court. Murray also saw, but gave no reaction whatsoever.
Becker sweeps into a 30-0 advantage, but Murray fights back with a passing forehand winner. Big moment for the German, but he comes through it with two huge serves, and he continues to impress.
Murray comes out on top in a couple of neat exchanges to begin the game, but Becker displays his power with two deep baseline shots to level up at 30-30. Murray gets lucky with a net cord, but he still has to work hard to flash a winner pasted the outstretched reach of the German. The Scot gets out of trouble with a serve out wide.
Murray goes wide with a cross-court forehand, before Becker shows superb coverage at the net to put away a volley. However, two shots into the net from Becker take the score to 30-30, but again, Becker's serve keeps him even with the world number two.
Becker should take the first point, but he misses an easy shot down the line. Murray shows him how it is done with two punishing forehands into the open court. Becker gets on the board when Murray goes long, but he holds serve when the German nets a volley.
BREAK! The power on some of Becker's groundstrokes are immense, but it is also bringing a few errors, and two more move Murray to 15-30. The German plays a fine one-two off his serve, but Murray brings up break point after moving into the court to put away a return. A mis-timed smash from Murray is complemented with a rash backhand from Becker, and Murray moves one game away from the second set. Out on court one, Darcis is serving for the match against Darcis.
SET! A super forehand from Becker gets him to 15-15, but a volley and an ace earn Murray two set points. Becker thunders a forehand down the line to save the first, but a second ace of the game gives the set to the Scot.
HUGE news from court one: Rafael Nadal has been knocked out of Wimbledon in the first round to Belgian Steve Darcis. Unbelievable.
BREAK! That result has sent shockwaves around Wimbledon. That is the first time that Nadal has been knocked out of a Grand Slam in the opening round. Back to this match, and Murray produces the perfect game to break serve, finishing off with a put-away at the net.
All of a sudden, Murray has a spring in his step. That wouldn't have anything to do about the Nadal result, would it? The wind is taken out of his sails after a tiring rally, but he comes through the game with a smash at the net.
Becker coasts to 30-0, but an excellent backhand down the line helps Murray get back to 30-30. Despite being two sets down, the German is still playing well and he takes the game with an unreturnable first serve.
Murray begins the game with an ace, and he extends that advantage when Becker miscues a forehand. The confidence is beginning to flow with the world number two, and a love-service hold is confirmed when the German nets.
While there is an inevitability about the result of this match, you can't take anything away from Becker, who has performed admirably. He could have perhaps got through a couple of matches if he hadn't ran into Murray. He holds to 15, but he is going to have to break his opponent to remain in this match.
That's stunning power once again from Becker, forcing Murray several feet behind the baseline, but the Scot replies with a backhand down the line. An 11th ace for the 26-year-old is followed by a long return, and he has game point. That's great serving from Murray, who moves two away from the second round when Becker nets a return.
BREAK! Murray wants this match done and dusted, but after conceding the opening point to a return winner from the Scot, Becker hits back. Murray looks increasingly composed, and he has two break points when Becker goes wide with a forehand. Both opportunities are saved by the German, but another error gives Murray a third chance, which he takes when Becker mis-times a forehand from the baseline.
ANDY MURRAY BEATS BENJAMIN BECKER
Murray finds the corner of the court with a looping forehand to move ahead, and he goes two away from the last 64 with a put-away at the net. The world number two goes for too much on a forehand, but a drive volley brings up two match points. Becker saves the first, but he can't do anything with the second, with the ball falling into the open court for Murray to fire the winner.
Andy Murray progresses through to the next round in just under two hours against a very stubborn opponent in Benjamin Becker. Murray was far from his best in the opening two sets, but an impressive third will give him optimism for the last 64.
Murray tells BBC Sport: "I thought it was a good match. I thought that he didn't give much away, and he served very well. I played a bit better in the third set, and his serve dropped off a little a bit, and it's a good start.
On Rafael Nadal's shock exit from Wimbledon, Murray said: "It's obviously surprising, but that's sport. Rafa's not played on grass this year and he obviously didn't play much last year either. Darcis won against Tomas Berdych in the Olympics, so he likes the grass court. He's a talented player."
Murray will be back on Wednesday for his second round encounter. That will be all from Sports Mole today. Thank you for joining us. Goodbye.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
