Summary

  • Fit-again Andy Murray wins his first match since November

  • Former world number one beats Liam Broady 6-2 6-2

  • First day of Battle of the Brits tournament at the National Tennis Centre in Roehampton

  • British number one Dan Evans overcomes Jay Clarke 6-3 6-1

  • Kyle Edmund beats James Ward 6-1 6-4

  • Liam Broady/Cameron Norrie beat Jamie Murray/Neal Skupski 3-6 7-5 11-9

  • James Ward/Kyle Edmund v Jay Clarke/Dom Inglot ends the opening day

  1. Postpublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray v Broady

    No such Wi-Fi ban is in place in my house so if I suddenly go quiet, assume someone is streaming a movie in the other room. On the upside, working from home does mean someone should bring me some food at some point.

  2. Postpublished at 18:52 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Russell Fuller
    BBC tennis correspondent at home

    I've tried to prevent other members of the family from using the Wi-Fi over the next couple of hours but there are a couple of things that we can't do anything about. Most importantly a pre-Sixth Form Zoom conference for my son which he clearly needs to be on.

    But YouTube has been banned.

  3. Postpublished at 18:51 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray v Broady

    Both players and the umpire take a knee in support of Black Lives Matter before the warm-up begins.

    Andy MurrayImage source, Getty Images
  4. Postpublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray v Broady

    Liam Broady says he hopes Murray moves well but from the look of the Scot's face he doesn't believe it.

    Broady reassures his opponent that he really does want the best for him.

    There could be some interesting chat in this one I think...

  5. 'They've been bigging themselves up in the group chat'published at 18:48 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray v Broady

    Andy Murray is talking down his chances pre-match on Amazon Prime:

    "I've been practising three or four days a week. These guys are hitting six or seven days a week.

    "In the group chat they've been bigging themselves up a lot so I'm expecting a lot from them.

    "If I lost to someone with a metal hip I'd be very disappointed. I'm doing ok - these matches are where I'll find out."

  6. Postpublished at 18:46 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray v Broady

    BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Coverage of this one is live on 5 Live Sports Extra with Russell Fuller, Naomi Cavaday and Iain Carter.

    You can listen by pressing play at the top of this page.

  7. Postpublished at 18:46 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray v Broady

    Here we go then. Liam Broady steps out onto court first, bit weird without the cheer of a crowd but needs must. He looks in the zone.

    Andy Murray is out next, looking a bit nervous if I'm honest.

  8. Murray sets it straightpublished at 18:43 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Did you know about Andy Murray's rap song? No, me neither...

    Media caption,

    'It's awful' - Andy Murray on his rap song, James Bond & being a hardcore gamer

  9. 'The Grand Slams are my priority' - Murraypublished at 18:40 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray v Broady

    He may be easing himself back into tennis, but Murray has already said the Grand Slams are a priority for him this year.

    He wants to play the US Open and French Open providing it is safe.

    The US Open is set to take place behind closed doors from 31 August, with the French Open starting on 27 September.

  10. Welcome backpublished at 18:36 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray v Broady

    Can Liam Broady take down two Murrays in one day?

    He's already seen off Jamie Murray in the doubles and now it's time to take on former world number one Andy - who is playing his first match in seven months after a pelvic injury.

    If you beat both brothers in one day do you automatically have to take on Judy Murray? Hope not, for Broady's sake.

    Anyway, welcome to live coverage of the Battle of the Brits AKA the return of elite men's tennis in the UK!

    Andy Murray plays a backhandImage source, Getty Images
  11. Postpublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Rightio, that's all from me. First WFH live text shift and I managed to avoid flooding the kitchen/seeing the dog pull out Internet connection/ watching screaming kids spill food perilously close to the laptop*.

    Result.

    More importantly, we saw some tennis. Some actual tennis. Some good tennis!

    While the action continues now at Roehampton, we're taking a breather and returning for Andy Murray's return.

    In the meantime have a read of the former world number one's latest BBC Sport column. And see you back here later. Half 5/6ish?

    (*These have all happened to rather unfortunate colleagues of mine over the past few weeks.)

  12. Postpublished at 15:10 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Liam Broady, speaking to Amazon Prime, on what his message to Andy Murray is: "You're a really good guy Andy - Sir Andy, sorry. It is going to be fun and I'm looking forward to it.

    "He's a fantastic player, a fantastic champion. He's moving really well at the moment, he's telling people he's not.

    "We'll see how it goes. I'l save the trash talk for off camera!"

  13. Postpublished at 15:08 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Broady has been full of chat in the lead-up to this event, according to the rest of the players.

    Certainly he did his talking on-court there. And can he do it again against the 'One Hip Wonder' as Andy Murray has been nicknamed by brother Jamie recently.

    Here's what Broady has to say before they get down to business in a few hours or so...

  14. Postpublished at 15:06 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 9-11 Norrie/Broady

    Broady's work for the day isn't done yet, though. He's on a split-shift.

    Next up? Andy Murray in the singles...

    Here's what the rest of the day looks like:

    Kyle Edmund v James Ward

    Dan Evans v Jay Clarke

    Andy Murray v Liam Broady

    Jack Draper/Kyle Edmund v Jay Clarke/Dom Inglot

  15. Postpublished at 15:05 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 9-11 Norrie/Broady

    Cameron Norrie, speaking to Amazon Prime, on what it feels like playing in behind-closed-doors event: "It's just good to be out here, and feel the nerves again and feel be on the match court again. To have a close match like that it feels unreal to get through it and set ourselves up for the singles."

  16. Postpublished at 15:04 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 9-11 Norrie/Broady

    The favourites for the tournament beaten by an unknown quantity... like Argentina being shocked by Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup. Sort of.

    Liam Broady and Cameron Norrie touch racquets with Jamie Murray and Neal SkupskiImage source, Getty Images
  17. 'We're an unorthodox pair' - Broadypublished at 15:02 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 9-11 Norrie/Broady

    Liam Broady: "It was tough because we didn't start badly but we started a little bit slow. Jamie and Neal are so good because they punish people's little mistakes.

    "I actually thought we played well in the first set apart from one or two games, second set came out with good energy and changed a couple of things on our returns.

    "Overall we're a pretty unorthodox pair - two singles players and two lefties. We played well today."

  18. Postpublished at 15:00 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 9-11 Norrie/Broady

    Wasn't that fun? A decent standard that too, strong first-serve percentages, plenty of winner and not too many unforced errors.

    Lovely stuff.

  19. game, set and match

    Game, set and match Norrie and Broadypublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 9-11 Norrie/Broady

    What a point! What a way to win!

    Cam Norrie and Neal Skupski draw their pistols on opposing baselines, waiting for the other to blink first.

    Eventually, after that rally is broken up, Skupski swaps sides of the court as he scrabbles, pushing a stretching backhand into the net.

    Norrie and BroadyImage source, Getty Images
  20. Postpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 23 June 2020

    Murray/Skupski 6-3 5-7 9-10 Norrie/Broady*

    The heads of Murray and Skupski drop as they clash racquets at the net after one of them - Murray, I think - hits long.

    Another match point for Norrie and Broady...