ANDY MURRAY thrashed Andrey Rublevon on Wednesday to reach the Australian Open third round but the Scot endured an injury scare after twisting his right ankle.

    Murray’s foot gave way at the start of the third set on Rod Laver Arena and while he was still able to see out his 6-3, 6-0, 6-2 victory, he clearly remained in some discomfort.

    The British No. 1 chose not to request any medication from the tournament physio but soon after told his box, “my foot is killing me.”

    Murray will now face American Sam Querrey in round three.

    Asked about his ankle in his on-court interview afterwards, Murray said: “It’s just a little bit sore, it’s not too serious but I definitely rolled it a bit. I’ll make sure I get some ice on it.

    “I was moving OK at the end which is positive.

    “Sometimes if you roll your ankle and it feels bad, you can’t put weight on it but I could put weight on it so I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

    Even when hampered, Murray had too much for the 19-year-old Rublev, a talented shot-maker but who was playing only his third match at a grand slam and looked slightly overawed.

    Murray cannot afford to be much below 100 percent against Querrey, however. The world No. 32 boasts a powerful, if occasionally erratic, game and demonstrated his threat by knocking Novak Djokovic out of Wimbledon last year.

    “It’ll be a tough one,” Murray said. “He’s got a big game, a big serve and takes a lot of chances with his forehand.”

    Murray’s win came shortly after his compatriot Dan Evans had registered the tournament’s biggest shock so far by beating seventh seed Marin Cilic out on Court Three.

    The pair’s progress means Britain has two men into the Australian third round for the first time since Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski made it through in 2002. Incidentally, Henman and Rusedski played each other that year and Henman reached the last 16.

    If Kyle Edmund completes a trio by overcoming Spain’s 30th seed Pablo Carreno Busta the next day, it will be the first time ever that three British players have made it to the third round here in a draw of 128 players.

    Rublev held his own in the opening exchanges but Murray soon stepped up a gear. A sumptuous backhand lob sparked a decisive break at 3-2 while the second set was a procession, Murray breaking three times to clinch it 6-0.

    (SD-Agencies)