Both defending champion and top seed Andy Murray, and former world No 1 Rafael Nadal had few problems reaching the third round at Wimbledon, with straight sets victories.

Murray was clinical in beating dread-locked Dustin Brown 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, while Nadal saw off American Donald Young, the world No 43, 6-4, 6-2, 7-5.

Elsewhere, South Africa’s Kevin Anderson beat Italy’s Andreas Seppi 6-3, 7-6, 6-4 to reach the third round and continue his positive start to the tournament.

Murray needed only 96 minutes to see off Brown on Centre Court as he underlined his return to fitness following a nagging hip injury. Next up for world No 1 Murray is an encounter with colourful Italian 28th seed Fabio Fognini.

‘He started very well, he was coming up with some great drop volleys and really going for the returns,’ Murray said.

‘Once I got the break in the first set, I felt the momentum was with me. I started to see the shots he was going to play a little bit quicker and that allowed me to get to some of the drop volleys and come up with some passing shots.’

In women’s action, two-time champion Petra Kvitova lost in the second round to American Madison Brengle.

Kvitova, who was playing only her third tournament of 2017 after being stabbed by an intruder at her home in December, was beaten 6-1, 1-6, 6-2.

The American had never won a singles game at Wimbledon before this year and is ranked 95th in the world.

But five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams lost the first set ,before beating world No 55 Wang Qiang 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 to move into the last 32.

Williams is now 37 years old and was 4-2 ahead in the opening set, but lost four consecutive games to lose the first set, before she recovered to move into the third round.

Williams, who last won the Wimbledon title nine years ago, will play unseeded Japanese player Naomi Osaka in the last 32, after she defeated 22nd seed Barbora Strycova of the Czech Republic 1-6, 6-0, 6-4.

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