Murray has last laugh over Davydenko at Wimbledon

Britain’s Andy Murray serves against Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko on the second day of the 2012 Wimbledon tennis tournament at the All England Tennis Club Murray had the last laugh as he silenced Nikolay Davydenko’s taunts with a straight sets win Tuesday to kick off his Wimbledon campaign.

LONDON - Home favourite Andy Murray had the last laugh as he silenced Nikolay Davydenko’s taunts with a straight sets win Tuesday to kick off his Wimbledon campaign.

The Russian had claimed players laughed at the British fourth seed, believing he exaggerates his injuries.

But Murray left Davydenko licking his wounds by beating him 6-1, 6-1 6-4 on Centre Court.

Davydenko, 31, a former world number three, but now at 47, was outclassed by his Scottish opponent.

“I’m desperate to get the tournament going because there’s a lot of talk from a lot of people,” Murray said afterwards.

“It’s never easy playing at Wimbledon in the first round but that was a good start. The first two sets were very good. I got off to a great start and then relaxed.

“Since Queen’s I’ve been itching to get going.

“I was hitting the ball very clean from the beginning of the match.”

Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates victory over Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko at Wimbledon on June 26, making a signal that some believed meant “One down, six to go”. Murray, the home favourite, had the last laugh Tuesday as he silenced Davydenko’s taunts with a straight sets win to kick off his Wimbledon campaign.

He faces either Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic or Israel’s Dudi Sela in the second round.

Murray, making his seventh Wimbledon appearance, has never lost his opening match at the All England Club and has made the semi-finals on the last three occasions.

He is bidding to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win the men’s singles crown.

Murray has come under fire in recent weeks from the likes of Virginia Wade, the last British singles winner at Wimbledon, who won the ladies’ title in 1977.

She called him a “drama queen”, claiming the 25-year-old exaggerated any bumps and bruises he may be feeling.

“We just laugh sometimes,” Davydenko told The Sun newspaper on Tuesday.

Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko rests between points during his match against Britain’s Andy Murray the 2012 Wimbledon Championships in London on June 26. Home favourite Murray had the last laugh as he silenced Davydenko’s taunts with a straight sets win Tuesday to kick off his Wimbledon campaign.

“Sometimes he walks on court, he looks tired, like he doesn’t want to run anymore and then he runs like an animal. He has done that all his career.

“He may have a pain somewhere but if you ask any player they will all say they have pains here and there. Nobody says they are perfect. It’s just not possible.”

Murray showed no bitterness at the end of the match, shaking hands with Davydenko at the net.

He added later that he was unconcerned about either the criticisms he had received from players or from the annual pressures at his home Grand Slam.

“I just wanted to go out there, play well, keep my focus, and not worry about the other stuff that goes on off the court around this time of the year,” he said.

“I think I did a good job of that Time to let the tennis do the talking.

“I guess that stopping getting asked questions or have people doubting you is by playing tennis and winning matches. That’s what I need to do the rest of the tournament.”