Carlos Alcaraz starts defence of Queen's title with straight sets win ...

Carlos Alcaraz has breezed through to the last-16 at Queen's after beating Francisco Cerundolo, while Andy Murray progressed with victory over Alexei Popyrin.

Alcaraz, who is attempting to defend the title he won last year, picked up a 6-1 7-5 victory.

But he showed no signs of rustiness in easing through the first set, which he took 6-1 in double-quick time, winning 16 of 20 points behind his own serve.

Cerundolo rallied at the start of the second, and duly broke his opponent for an early 2-0 lead.

He maintained that advantage as the set wore on, but his game crumbled as he served for it at 5-3.

Alcaraz broke back and was expected to regain control from there, but there was more drama to come as he faced three set points in the next game.

Each were saved though, with Cerundolo continuing to struggle to find his range on the big points, and after holding for 5-5, the Spaniard inevitably broke for a 6-5 lead.

That gave him the chance to serve for the match, and he wrapped proceedings up by winning the game to love, sealing it with a thumping serve out wide that his opponent failed to return.

"The first match in every tournament is never easy, but even more difficult here on grass," he said in his on-court interview.

"Starting the grass season, you want to do a good result, so you have to deal with those expectations that you put on yourself.

"But I'm really happy with the match I played. Of course, a really good test, playing against Franscico.

"[It was] close in the second set. It was good to have those situations, to have to deal with the nerves, serving or returning to stay alive in the second set.

"I'm really happy with everything I've done and hopefully kick on."

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He will now face either Mariano Navone or British No 1 Jack Draper in the second round, with the pair due to play later today.

Somebody else who knows a thing or two about Queen's Club is Andy Murray, who has won the title more than anybody else.

The former world No. 1, who is potentially playing at the tournament for the last time, joined Alcaraz in the last-16 by beating Popyrin 6-3 3-6 6-3.

The Scot - playing his 1,000th match on the tour - had lost four successive matches before taking on his Australian opponent, including a first-round defeat at the French Open to Stanislas Wawrinka.

He is therefore desperately trying to find form ahead of what is expected to be his final attempt at a third Wimbledon crown.

And the five-time Queen's champion started in good fashion, as he raced through the first set, taking it 6-3 in just 34 minutes.

Indeed, Murray did not face a single break point in the set, while also firing down nine winners and registering only one unforced error.

He eventually broke in the eighth game for a 5-3 lead, and served the set out to 15.

However, a dip in his game at the start of the second saw Popyrin break straight away.

From there, the Australian delivered an exhibition of serving, getting his first serve in on 83% occasions, and losing only three points when he did.

As such, he leveled when taking the set 6-3, but in front of an expectant crowd, Murray composed himself at the start of the third.

He took the first three games, including a break in the second, and despite a few nervy moments at 30-30 and deuce, his volleying was on point to open up a 4-1 advantage.

From then on, it was a case of holding in his next two service games, and the Scot did so emphatically, sealing the match with a delightful volley.

"It's great reward at the end for the hard work and effort I've put into the match," he said in his on-court interview.

"I haven't got too many wins this year, it's been a difficult season, but I did well to come through in the end. I held quite a few tight service games and managed to serve it out well.

"Any win that you can get is important, that's why we're playing.

"With Wimbledon a few weeks away, I want to try and build up some confidence and get some matches in my legs.

"Today was a difficult one and I'm proud of the way I fought and came back in the third set after losing the second. It's great to get another win here."

Next up is another Australian in the form of Jordan Thompson, who beat Murray in the first round at Queen's in 2017.

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