Andy Murray through after four-set win over Nikoloz Basilashvili

Andy Murray is through to the second round at Wimbledon after beating Nikoloz Basilashvili on Centre Court.

The world number 118 only restarted his singles career at Queen’s two weeks ago after a lengthy injury lay-off but rolled back the years to defeat the Georgian 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-3.

Murray broke at a crucial time to take the opening set before saving break point twice to keep pace in the second set.

A break for 5-3, followed by a hold, put Murray two sets up and on the way to a superb opening-day victory at Wimbledon.

The real test for Murray would have been whether his previous injury problems could hold out for a prolonged period against higher-ranked opposition. The former world number one looked to be strolling to victory though when he went 5-0 up in the third set.

Basilashvili turned the match on its head though with three successive breaks for 5-5 before holding to take a 6-5 lead.

Tiredness was starting to show for the 34-year-old Murray and Basilashvili won his seventh game in a row to take the third set.

A break to close the Centre Court roof came at the perfect time and the first three games of the fourth set were all breaks, Murray taking a 2-1 lead.

Basilashvili saved two break points to hold game five but Murray broke when 5-3 up to win the match in three hours and 16 minutes.

Cover Photo: Andy Murray by Nick Webb under license by CC BY 2.0.