Unlike his compatriots in Brazil, Belgium’s David Goffin proved to be something of a sacrificial lamb when making his centre court debut against Britain’s reigning champion Andy Murray today, writes Colin Mackenzie.
In just under 70 minutes Murray was two sets to love up on the Belgian, a doppelgänger for US actor Michael J Fox but not quite as small.
Murray was never under any serious pressure as he strolled to his early lead, losing only five games. In truth the young Belgian never looked like emulating his fellow countryman Steve Darcis, who dismissed a shocked Rafael Nadal in last year’s first round.
It was a bit of a mismatch rather like a heavyweight boxer taking on a lightweight. In reality it was the perfect debut match for Murray, the first Brit to defend the Wimbledon men’s title since Fred Perry 78 years ago.
It gave him the feel of the centre court without the penalty of a tough match.
Goffin upped his game in the third set but it proved me to be too little too late, eventually losing 6-1, 6-4, 7-5 to the British number one. The match took two hours and two minutes.
Earlier Britain’s Johanna Konta, ranked 49 places lower than China’s Shuai Peng, lost a spirited three setter lasting two hours 20 minutes.
Konta had her chances and should, perhaps, have won the opening set having had eight deuces when four five down. Before succumbing. 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 was the final score in an absorbing match that could have gone either way.
Certainly Konta who possesses a powerful backhand can improve her ranking of 109 in the near future if she cuts out the volleying errors which blighted her first set.
