Murray in Round 3 as Kvitova exits

Andy Murray comfortably overcame everything the unorthodox Dustin Brown served up Wednesday as the defending champion breezed into the third round at Wimbledon, where players battled sizzling temperatures and flying ants.

Venus Williams, Kei Nishikori and Johanna Konta ground out victories to make the last 32, while new mum Victoria Azarenka continued her comeback bid for Grand Slam glory.

However, Petra Kvitova, who is playing in her second Grand Slam since recovering from a terrifying knife attack in her home was knocked out by Madison  Brengle 6-3, 1-6, 6-2. Kvitova is a two-time Wimbledon champion and was the bookmakers' favourite for the 2017 title.

Brown, the dreadlocked German with Jamaican roots, knocked out Rafael Nadal in the second round two years ago at the All England Club.

However, world number one Murray was not caught out by his extrovert drop shots, racing to a ruthless 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory on Centre Court.

Next up for Murray is a clash with colourful Italian 28th seed Fabio Fognini in Friday's third round.

US five-time champion Williams survived a scare against Chinese rising star Wang Qiang, eventually winning 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Williams faces Japan's Naomi Osaka in Friday's third round.

Former world number one Azarenka, playing her first Grand Slam tournament since giving birth to first child Leo in December, knocked out Russian 15th seed Elena Vesnina 6-3, 6-3.

The 2012 and 2013 Australian Open champion, 27, could become the first mother to win the Wimbledon singles since Evonne Goolagong Cawley in 1980.

British sixth seed Konta reached the Wimbledon third round for the first time with a marathon 7-6 (8/6), 4-6, 10-8 win over Donna Vekic which left her opponent in tears.

Nishikori dug deep to keep his Wimbledon hopes alive as the Japanese ninth seed ground out a 6-4, 6-7 (7/9), 6-1, 7-6 (8/6) win over Ukrainian qualifier Sergiy Stakhovsky.

Seeds Marin Cilic, Gilles Muller, Steve Johnson and Karen Khachanov made it through, however Lucas Pouille was knocked out by Jerzy Janowicz, a 2013 semi-finalist.

Russia's temperamental Daniil Medvedev, who had knocked out world number three Stan Wawrinka, crashed out to Belgian qualifier Ruben Bemelmans.