London: Andy Murray made light work of a tricky tea-time assignment at Wimbledon on Thursday while Lleyton Hewitt, the man who has already lifted the trophy the Scot so cherishes, rolled back the years to cause a big upset.
In front of 15,000 Centre Court fans and thousands watching the match on Henman Hill's giant screen, Murray devoured Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 to clear another hurdle towards becoming Britain's first men's singles champion in 73 years.
Murray was joined in the third round by dogged Australian Hewitt, the 2002 champion, who produced a vintage display to dispatch fifth seed Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets.
Women's third seed Venus Williams, who along with her sister Serena has collected sackfuls of silverware here, powered past Ukraine's Kateryna Bondarenko to remain firmly on course for a hat-trick of singles titles.
The American five-time champion, who played with a strapping on her left knee, powered into the third round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory and was joined in the last 32 by Russia's world number one Dinara Safina and French Open winner Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Dazzling Mauresmo
On another day of record-breaking crowds mercurial Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, champion here three years ago, also progressed, dazzling the sun-roasted fans on Court Three with a comfortable defeat of Kristina Kucova.
Argentina's Del Potro, occupying the place in the draw vacated by injured champion Rafael Nadal, was given a lesson in grasscourt play by Hewitt who posted a 6-3, 7-5, 7-5 victory.
Hewitt, backed by a vocal section of Australian fans decked out in yellow and green, moved his opponent all across the court and even flicked some lobs over the towering 20-year-old.
"It was a big win. I wanted to beat a top five guy," said former world number one Hewitt, who has suffered with hip problems and now resides at 56 in the rankings.
"It was a lot of fun being out there. I guess, you know, kind of underdog out there a little bit as well."
Del Potro, who looked about as natural on grass as a giraffe on an ice rink, was gracious in defeat.
"He played a very good match," the Argentine said. "He's one of my idols. I said to him you're in very good shape again, so I'm happy for you and good luck."
Ginger wigs
Thousands bit their nails on Tuesday as Murray battled to victory over American Robert Kendrick in the first round.
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On Thursday, highly regarded Latvian Ernests Gulbis was expected to make life uncomfortable for the Briton and his growing army of fans, some of whom walked through the Wimbledon gates wearing ginger wigs and kilts in the sunshine.
However, after Murray saved two break points in his opening service game he completely overwhelmed his 20-year-old opponent, committing just five unforced errors in a display that will fuel the belief he can go all the way here.
A potential fly in the ointment could be Andy Roddick, the cannonball-serving American sixth seed who smacked 18 aces in a four-set defeat of Russia's Igor Kunitsyn.
Roddick or Hewitt could take advantage of the vacuum created by top seed Nadal's withdrawal to test Murray in the semis.
While the Scot, who received a letter of congratulation from the Queen for his recent title success at nearby Queen's Club, is seeking his first major, Thursday's schedule was littered with members of the exclusive club of grand slam champions.
Fine fettle
Venus Williams, one of its most illustrious, looked in fine fettle going through the gears smoothly against Bondarenko.
"I always felt like I needed to be the aggressive one and really take control of the point. That's really how I want to play throughout the championships," she said.
However, quizzed about what was wrong with her knee, which was strapped above and below, the 29-year-old was evasive.
"Support...," she said. "I felt really comfortable in the strap it was really nice. I really hate tape, like hate. I just needed it this time. So since it was Wimbledon, I taped."
Fifth-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova, who earlier this month added the French Open crown to the U.S. Open title she claimed in 2004, produced an impressive show of force to thrash Pauline Parmentier of France 6-1, 6-3.
She looks a better bet to challenge the Williams sisters than her compatriot and top seed Dinara Safina, who edged past Paraguay's Rossana De Los Rios in straight sets.
Elena Baltacha's 7-5, 6-1 defeat by Belgian Kirsten Flipkens left Murray as the sole British representative in the singles, although with the form he is showing the Scottish hope might just keep the home fires burning all the way to second weekend.
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