Andy Murray beats Ryan Peniston 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 to progress at Wimbledon

Andy Murray showed no mercy to unheralded compatriot Ryan Peniston as he put on a command performance in front of Roger Federer and the Princess of Wales.

With a prestigious audience in the Royal Box, Murray took only a fraction over two hours to beat the British wildcard 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 Under the roof of Centre Court away from the elements.

Peniston, from Southend, is ranked a humble 268, but is at his best on grass, as he has shown with three victories in the last two editions of the Cinch Championships at Queen’s Club.

With his nimble footwork and short backswing he gave Murray some awkward moments early on and created two break points as he stayed close in the first five games.

However, against a player of the 36 year-old Scot’s calibre you have to take them, and with Murray starting to dictate the play more he reeled off the next eleven games to dominate the contest.

 The British star cruised to a straight-set victory over compatriot Ryan Peniston on Tuesday

Murray will now face either Dominic Thiem or Stefanos Tsitsipas in the next round 

A big cheer went up when Peniston won a consolation game, and he contributed to some sparkling rallies, only to find a huge gulf between himself and the twice champion.

Murray was left awaiting the winner of Stefanos Tsitsipas against Dominic Thiem in the second round. Thiem was leading by a set before it became one of the dozens of matches that had to be postponed for rain.

‘It’s amazing to be back here on Centre Court, I started quite nervous, a it tentatively but once I got the break I played some good stuff,’ Murray said after the win.

‘It has been a long time since I have felt physically this good coming into Wimbledon. Hopefully I’m ready for a good run.

‘It was amazing to have some royalty here and some tennis royalty as well. Roger here supporting this event. Last time he watched me here was here was at the Olympics he was supporting Stan Wawrinka (against me).’