Dream debut for Murray

Andy Murray made a sensational Wimbledon debut today - and then predicted his dream tournament would come to a shuddering halt on a Show Court in the next round.

The 18-year-old Scot admitted that he had not expected to win his opening-round contest today either but his 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 demolition of experienced Swiss qualifier George Bastl had the SW19 crowds hailing a new star.

The fans on Henman Hill became instant Murray converts after the youngster took just over 90 minutes on Court Two to defeat a man who is 166 places higher than him on the computer rankings.

It left the US Open boys' champion enthusing afterwards: "I wasn't expecting to win. Obviously, he's much better than me, as the rankings show, and he's beaten Pete Sampras here at Wimbledon. So I wasn't expecting to do so well." Yet, perhaps hoping that he can prove just as hopeless a tipster before his next match, against Czech No14 seed Radek Stepanek, Murray declared: "Obviously, I'm not expecting to win. I should lose pretty comfortably."

Then, betraying the fact he actually does fancy his chances in Thursday's second round, he said he expected organisers to give him a place on Court One, after queues today built up outside the cramped No2 to see the new hero.

He said. "They have to fit me in on Court One for my next match because I'm playing against a seed. Obviously I think my opponent might be nervous playing against me. The bigger the court they put me on, the more nervous he's going to get."

The youngster insisted he was not fazed by the growing 'Murraymania' at SW19, saying: "I've only won four or five matches and everyone's making it out as if I've won Wimbledon. It's a little bit over the top."

"Everyone's going to say that I am the great hope of British tennis, but it doesn't bother me." Murray was forced to wear a brace to protect his injured ankle during the match and revealed afterwards that once Wimbledon is over, he will have treatment in France to deal with a bone spur in the ankle.