Novak Djokovic launched his bid for an eighth Wimbledon title on Monday with a fortieth successive win on Centre Court as Russian gamers defiantly marked their return from a controversial 2022 ban.
The 36-year-old Djokovic, who has gained the previous 4 titles on the All England Club, defeated 68th-ranked Pedro Cachin of Argentina, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) on the event’s showpiece court docket, the place he has not misplaced since 2013.
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Djokovic even discovered time to assist floor employees dry out in all probability the world’s most well-known garden after the floor turned too slippery following a downpour.
The covers had been rushed on as quickly because the defending champion had wrapped up the set, with rain falling in southwest London.
The roof, which value $AUD190 million to construct, was closed however there was a prolonged delay that includes a number of inspections by officers and the gamers.
Djokovic, who was clearly sad with the slipperiness of the floor, at one stage emerged with a towel, which he used to rub the floor of the court docket to laughter from the group.
Members of the bottom employees then used handheld machines to attempt to dry the floor in farcical scenes on the world-famous court docket.
“When I come out, I usually come out with racquets, not towels,” stated Djokovic, who described the court docket as “the holy grail, the temple of tennis”.
He added: “The conditions were not great under the roof, it was still slippery. I think it was definitely frustrating for the crowd waiting for us.”
The Serbian, bidding to match Roger Federer’s document of eight Wimbledon titles, goes on to face Australia’s Jordan Thompson for a spot within the third spherical of the event.
World quantity two Djokovic has already pocketed the Australian Open and French Open this 12 months.
Winning a males’s-record twenty third main in Paris put him only one behind Margaret Court’s all-time singles mark of 24.
He can also be half option to pulling off the primary calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.
Casper Ruud, the fourth-seeded Norwegian overwhelmed by Djokovic within the French Open remaining, made the subsequent spherical by beating French qualifier Laurent Lokoli 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, 6-3.
Seventh-seeded Andrey Rublev of Russia was the primary males’s winner of the day, beating Australia’s Max Purcell 6-3, 7-5, 6-4.
Twelve months in the past, all Russian and Belarusian gamers had been banned by Wimbledon in response to the invasion of Ukraine.
“I think obviously there were better options — not just to ban,” stated Rublev, who subsequent faces compatriot Aslan Karatsev.
“Because in the end, there was no difference. They did only worse to themselves.”
Fellow Russians Daria Kasatkina and Veronika Kudermetova, in addition to two-time main winner Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, had been additionally first day winners.
World primary Iga Swiatek racked up the primary 5 video games on her option to sweeping previous China’s Zhu Lin.
Reigning US Open and French Open champion Swiatek got here via 6-1, 6-3 in opposition to her Thirty fourth-ranked opponent.
“I feel confident and did a good job of adjusting to grass,” stated the 22-year-old Pole, who has but to get previous the final 16 at Wimbledon.
There was no fairytale for five-time champion Venus Williams, the 43-year-old American who made her debut on the event in 1997.
Williams, enjoying the singles occasion for the twenty fourth time, was defeated 6-4, 6-3 by fellow wildcard Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, a semi-finalist in 2019.
Williams took a nasty tumble early within the first set on Centre Court, hurting her proper knee, which was already closely strapped.
She required two visits by the coach earlier than her problem fizzled out below the load of 33 unforced errors.
“It’s always a pleasure to play Venus. I have played her so many times in almost every Slam,” stated Svitolina, describing the veteran American as a “legend”.
Coco Gauff was dumped out of Wimbledon on the primary day of the event on Monday, dropping 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 to former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin.
The 19-year-old seventh seed was damaged 4 instances within the match by her fellow American, making 33 unforced errors within the largest shock of the day on the All England Club.
Gauff, who reached the quarter-finals on the current French Open, misplaced the primary set and squandered a 3-0 lead within the second set earlier than popping out on prime to degree the match.
But qualifier Kenin, who gained the Australian Open in 2020, broke her opponent within the opening recreation of the third set and went on to win the decider 6-2.
AUSSIES IN ACTION
There had been a hanful of Aussies who took the courts at Wimbledon within the first spherical, with blended outcomes throughout the borad.
Jordan Thompson arrange a second spherical encounter with celebrity Djokovic with an exciting come-from-behind win over America’s Brandon Nakashima.
Thompson gained 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 to safe a well-known victory.
Aleksandar Vukic overcame Germany’s Daniel Altmaier 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 3-6, 7-5 in a gruelling encounter.
Vukic fired down 11 aces to Altmaier’s three to e-book a spot within the second spherical the place his opponent is but to be decided.
Unfortunately for Storm Sanders, her Wimbledon journey is over after happening 6-3, 6-1 to Wang Xinyu of China.
As is Max Purcell’s, who misplaced 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to No. 7 seed Andrey Rublev.
Originally printed as Djokovic at centre of $190m farce as second spherical conflict in opposition to Aussie looms
Source: www.news.com.au
