Murray shows appetite for the big time

The second-youngest man in the entire competition at 18 years, one month and six days seemed quite unfazed by all the fuss as he emerged on court cocooned in a world of his own, listening to his iPod. His mum, Judy, watching at courtside, reckoned he'd had his usual preparation - "Hard to get him out of bed, had breakfast, read The Sun, listened to loud music" - and, certainly, he started as if quite oblivious to the 'C'mon Andy' shrieks aimed at him.

Coach Mark Petchey reckoned that he wouldn't be restricted by the ankle trouble but was probably three days behind in terms of his preparation. Indeed, from the start, his freedom and speed of movement made Bastl seem positively pedestrian, even though it seemed as if the bulky black brace around his left ankle must affect him.

Yet once again demonstrating that superb serve which had the purists purring at Queen's, the Scot lost only five points on his delivery in the entire first set.

He appeared to have initially let Bastl off the hook when he spurned four break points in the fifth game but made no mistake when he landed another opportunity at 4-4, basically outstaying his opponent in the longest rally of the match before the Swiss lost his patience and struck a forehand far too long.

With plenty of juice on his serve - one ace was timed at 129mph - Murray served out confidently for the set in 37 minutes and, with his superior weight and variety of shots, from drop volleys to exquisite lobs, began to start bullying his vastly more experienced opponent and making him look the journeyman he is. When Bastl served a tame double fault, it was the signal for Murray to hammer home the first break and he reeled off the next three games in double quick time as the Swiss visibly began to puff hard in the heat.

It was John McEnroe who noted after his exit with cramp and injury at Queen's that there might be a question mark over the lad's fitness in five-set contests but he was so superior-to the man ranked, absurdly, 166 places above him on the computer that he was physically dominant even in these muggy conditions.

Indeed, he always seemed in such control, we didn't even see much of the histrionics and screaming at himself witnessed at Queen's. Apart from his now familiar fist-pumping routine, the one sign of great emotion came when he smashed a glorious forehand winner down the line to earn the key break in the third set and leapt into the air with a whoop of joy.

Victory was greeted with a gentle puffing out of the cheeks as if he was both a wee bit tired and just a mite relieved. The first hurdle is over and next up is a show court debut against 14th-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek, who beat the US's Robby Ginepri today. Bring them all on, the kid would doubtless cry.