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Tennis Swiatek strolls into round 2 at Wimbledon, extending record winning run

WORLD number one Iga Swiatek went into the record books in style as she won her 36th match in a row with victory over Jana Fett on Centre Court today.

The Pole’s amazing streak, which goes back to February and has seen her win six tournaments, is the longest this century.

The two-time French Open champion, a hot favourite for the SW19 crown, beat Croatian Fett 6-0 6-3. Defending champion Ashleigh Barty’s retirement meant that Swiatek opened play on the main show court and she looked entirely at home, handing her opponent a 33-minute bagel.

Number five seed Maria Sakkari made light work of Australian Zoe Hives, wining 6-1 6-4, but 14th seed Belinda Bencic is out, losing 6-4 5-7 6-2 to Wang Qiang in a match carried over from Monday.

British wild card Ryan Peniston beat Henri Laaksonen in straight sets, and another home favourite, Heather Watson, beat Tamara Korpatsch 6-7 (7) 7-5 6-2. 

On Monday, Emma Raducanu and Andy Murray made it an opening day to remember for British fans on Centre Court.

The two biggest home stars have struggled with injury in the build-up, Raducanu with a side strain and Murray an abdominal problem, but the greater doubt surrounded the former.

The US Open champion, just 19, faced tricky Belgian Alison Van Uytvanck but relished the occasion and maintained her record of not having lost in the first round of a grand slam with a 6-4 6-4 victory. Raducanu next plays France’s Caroline Garcia on Wednesday.

Two-time champion Murray made a slow start against Australian James Duckworth, losing the opening set, but recovered well, even throwing in an underarm serve in the third set of a 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory that finished under the roof. He meets 20th seed John Isner of the United States in the second round on Wednesday.

British number one Cameron Norrie overcame two rain breaks and Spanish veteran Pablo Andujar on Monday. Norrie had seen three match points come and go when the heavens opened for a second time but needed just four minutes on the resumption to complete a 6-0 7-6 (3) 6-3 victory.

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