Andy Murray beats Mikhail Kukushkin in Wimbledon first round

Andy Murray won his first-round match at Wimbledon, beating Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4 7-6 6-4.

Eurosport

Image credit: TNT Sports

The third seed and 2013 champion looked on course to cruise through when he broke in the 10th game to clinch the first set and immediately broke again to take a 2-0 lead in the second.

But the wheels came off his serve and the Kazakh, ranked 59th in the world, took full advantage and fought back to lead 6-5 with the chance to serve for the set in sweltering conditions on Centre Court.

He could not hold his nerve, however, dropped serve and was soundly beaten in the tiebreak as Murray raced into a 6-1 lead and closed it out after another brief wobble on serve.

Australian Open

Why Federer stopped training with Murray and 'never' trained with Nadal, Djokovic

16/12/2025 at 09:10

Murray, among the favourites to clinch a second Wimbledon title this year, broke in the fifth game of the third set and closed it out when Kukushkin fired a backhand wide.

Tennis

Murray 'disappointed' by results during Djokovic partnership

01/12/2025 at 16:14

Wimbledon

'We can say the level is better' - Hurkacz compares Sinner and Alcaraz to 'Big Four'

18/07/2025 at 16:19