27 days after surgery on a torn meniscus, seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic returned to competitive action with a straight-sets win over Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva – kicking off another title charge at SW19, having come agonisingly close to making more history last season. Given the tournament’s flurry of injury withdrawals, he’ll be glad not to be among them.
Djokovic pleased with opening-round showing
- “If it was for any other tournament, I probably wouldn’t risk or rush it as much but I just love Wimbledon,” Djokovic reveals post-match, as 24-time Major champion looks to tie now-retired rival Roger Federer’s mark for eight Grand Slam titles at SW19 – most by a man in tennis history
- Serb will play British wildcard Jacob Fearnley on Thursday for a third-round berth, after 22-year-old college prospect won in straight-sets against Spanish qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas (7-5, 6-4, 7-6)
- Surprises aplenty: Elsewhere in Djokovic’s side of the draw… #6 seed Andrey Rublev, Felix Auger-Aliassime [17] and Djokovic’s French Open foe Francisco Cerundolo [26] among those beaten in first-round play
ONE down, six to go but Novak Djokovic will be taking it day-by-day as last year’s runner-up looks to add a record-extending 25th Major title next weekend – doing so against the odds given the lingering injury doubts clouding his preparation this year.
He sported a gray sleeve on his surgically repaired right knee but produced an efficient opening round showing, dropping just five games en route to a comfortable straight-sets win (6-1, 6-2, 6-2) over Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva on Centre Court.
The Serbian expressed happiness with how he felt physically, especially given the cloud of doubt hanging over his injury status following a quick turnaround from surgery to match play during his post-match interview courtside.
“I didn’t know how everything was going to unfold on the court, really. Practice sessions are quite different from official match play, just extremely glad [with] the way I felt and played today.”
- Smooth sailing: Job done for Djokovic on Day 2
Finishing with twice as many winners to unforced errors (32-16), he seized six of 15 break point opportunities and utilised quick points to his advantage as conserving energy was a factor if he’s to embark on another deep run at this summer’s Major.
The 37-year-old won 74.7% of points contested lasting four rally strokes or fewer (68-of-91) and accepted had this been any other tournament, he wouldn’t have risked such a rapid return – not least with the Paris Olympics on clay later this month too.
Having sustained the meniscus tear in his five-set win over Francisco Cerundolo on June 3, he withdrew before a proposed quarterfinal with Casper Ruud, underwent successful surgery two days later and has returned less than a full month later.
Picture source: Getty Images, quotes via BBC TV
Mo and Sports 