Serbian Novak Djokovic, current Wimbledon champion, qualified for the third round of the English grass tournament on Wednesday by comfortably beating Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis in three sets26 years old and number 79 in the world.
Djokovic, 35 years old and third racket in the ATP, did not lose any game and it took him two hours to win 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 on center court at the All England Club in London.
The Serbian, who is looking for his seventh Wimbledon title and the fourth in a row since 2018, he will face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in the third round, who eliminated Chilean Alejandro Tabilo in the second round.
This will be his last Grand Slam of the year since without being vaccinated against covid-19 will be able to enter the United States to play the US Open.
After Wednesday’s match, he declared “very happy with my performance today”thanks to a “solid” game far from the difficulties he faced in the first round against the South Korean Soon-woo Kwon, 81st in the world.
“I have to say I’m pretty happy with the way I raised the level of my tennis today and I hope to continue progressing throughout the tournament,” he added.
Djokovic started by breaking the first game service of the Australian and expeditiously scored the games with his serve despite being hindered by a strong wind.
He was very damaging with his setbacks crossed and parallel, always looking for the line.
Kokkinakis struggled not to concede another break in the sixth game of the first set, but failed to defend the shots cut by the Serbian who scored the first set in just 30 minutes.
Go on to put more determination and some ace in a more disputed second set, the Australian remained powerless against the serb’s firmness. He rushed into the punches and made mistakes and double faults.
Djokovic, who was never in difficulty, he started the third round also with a break and he advanced with a firm step helped by the doubts of his adversary.