3rd July 17

I am so busy it's unreal. But anyway, Wimbledon has started.

Murray off to a flier 

Andy Murray brushed aside any concerns about his form as the weather put up a more stern fight than Alexander Bublik, with the World Number One winning in straight sets: 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. The closest Bublik came to disrupting the Briton was picking up three break points when Murray was serving for the second set, only for Murray to turn around the game with almost contemptuous ease to move two sets clear. And whilst the third set was consistently delayed by rain, Murray had a break in the bag immediately and never at any point did any outcome other than a Murray win look likely. 

And he did so in style. Despite the flawed nature of his opponent, with Bublik shooting himself in the foot with double faults at crucial moments on more than one occasion, Murray nevertheless played some genuinely outstanding tennis on his favourite Grand Slam court, in order to rattle off victory in comfortably less than two hours on court, although in practice it was well over two hours with the rain delays. 

The main concern for Murray will be how his hip problem hampers his fitness, but it doesn't appear to have had a tangible effect on his form, in this match at least. It was the perfect start for Murray as he played some dazzling drop shots, some magnificent cross-court winners and one or two outrageous backhand slices. Murray pulled out all of his tricks to bamboozle his opponent, who simply had no answer to the top seed. Winning so quickly and so comfortably will have done him the world of good, as he needs to minimise his time on court as much as possible, both with his hip injury to consider, and also factoring in how Wawrinka was able to utilise his lack of game time to fell the British player at Roland Garros. If it comes to a semi-final or final against Nadal or Federer, fitness could prove a critical part, and Murray currently is coming in at a disadvantage. 

But for now, Murray can be pleased both that he avoided an early upset, and with the emphatic nature of his win. He absolutely loves playing on grass, and particularly playing at Wimbledon and it absolutely showed with this fabulous win. On this form, it looks like his biggest obstacle to defending  his Wimbledon title will be his own body, as that hip injury will be looming large over the next week and a half. 

The Hard and Fast Section

• Germany win the Confederations Cup. And the U21 Euros. Wow.
• John Terry to Villa confirmed. Interesting. 
• Geraint Thomas in yellow on Le Tour.
• Du Plessis to miss first test. Blow for Saffers.