Murray - the back-to-back reigning Olympic champion - triumphed 6-3, 4-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 following three hours and 50 minutes on the Centre Court grass.

The Briton called the crowd "amazing" following the victory, which sets up a meting with Canada's 10th seed Denis Shapovalov.

Shapovalov recieved a walkover through round two, so will be refreshed when the match comes around on Friday (July 2).

Reigning champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia beat 2018 finalist Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.

Djokovic has now beaten the South African four times at Wimbledon and was in complete control today, never facing a break point.

Fifth seed Andrey Rublev of Russia also enjoyed a straight-sets win versus a South African, in his case triumphing 6-1, 6-2, 7-5 over Lloyd Harris.

Italy's Matteo Berrettini, seeded seventh and fresh from a win at Queen's, saw off Argentine Guido Pella in four sets.

Australia's Nick Kyrgios and 20-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime also reached round three of the men's singles.

In the women's singles, second seed Aryna Sabalenka survived a second-round scare.

The Belarusian dropped the opening set against Britain's Katie Boulter, but rebounded for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 win.

Top-10 seeds Sofia Kenin, Bianca Andreescu and Belinda Bencic were not so lucky, however.

Kenin lost an all-American affair with Madison Brengle 6-2, 6-4, while Swiss Bencic fell 6-3, 6-3 versus 20-year-old Slovenian Kaja Juvan in round one.

Canada's Andreescu, seeded fifth, also lost 6-2, 6-1 against Frenchwoman Alizé Cornet in another first-round match.

Polish seventh seed Iga Świątek and former champion Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain both made it through to round three in straight sets.