Andy Murray leads the charge of British players as he opened his Wimbledon campaign with a 6-4 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 win over Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin.
The match was played on Centre Court where the temperature hit 41C and is expected to increase in the coming days.
“It was a tough match. I made it hard for myself in the second set,” Murray told BBC Sport.
Murray was joined by British players Liam Broady, Aljaz Bedene and James Ward in the second round. Britain’s top seed Heather Watson will also go through in the women’s category as she defeated France’s Caroline Garcia.
For the first time since 2006, four British men have made into the second round.
“It’s nice, in my opinion,” Murray said regarding the British breakthrough. “I know all of them fairly well.
“It’s good for British tennis. The more wins and more players we can have in these events, it makes a difference.”
The raising heat wave does affect the players, but few have been coping well with it.
“In Australia it can be worse,” according to two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal, as he spoke to BBC sport.
“It’s actually beautiful. When you have this weather in Wimbledon, it’s probably one of the best places in the world,” he added.
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