ANDY MURRAY won tennis’ Battle of Britain and so set up another.
The British No 1 overcame spirited resistance by No 2 Aljaz Bedene to win 6-3 6-4 in their first meeting and move into the quarter-finals of the Aegon Championships.
And after Kyle Edmund was given a walkover because of Paul Henri Mathieu’s wrist injury, he and Murray will contest the first all-Brit last eight clash at Queen’s in the Open Era.
Murray said: “I’m still getting used to the conditions a little bit but I did well.
“I’m happy there’s more Brits around in the bigger events now.
“I actually had a feeling I was going to play one here”
And now a second awaits.
Murray said: “Kyle is improving all the time.
“It’s been a steady progression for him, not a massive leap, but every year getting a little bit better.
“He’s very professional, works hard and has a good team around him.
“He’s going in the right direction.”
While some in the crowd followed the England v Wales clash on their mobiles, Murray and Bedene laid on a sporting occasion of higher quality.
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Bedene earned himself a break point in the opening game and stayed with Murray all the way to the eighth.
But then a misjudged dropshot gave his opponent two opportunities, the second of which the Scot took before serving out the set.
Things looked ominous for Slovenia-born Bedene when he went three break points down in the opening game of the second.
But he saved all of them, plus one more, and held with an ace.
Even when Murray did break him, Bedene immediately responded to level at 2-2.
The Welywn Garden City-based player was coming up with some intelligent tennis to test the two-time Grand Slam winner and showing why Davis Cup captain Leon Smith would love to have him on the team.
But Murray pounced again in the seventh game and claimed the victory after a very good workout.
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