Novak Djokovic wasted little time in marching into the third round at Wimbledon as he breezed past Thanasi Kokkinakis.
It’s five years since the 35-year-old was last beaten at SW19, a record that never looked like being troubled as he cruised to a 6-1 6-4 6-2 victory on Centre Court. Djokovic faced one break point in the entire match.
Next up is a clash against fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic - the pair met earlier this year on home soil when the 22-year-old gave a good account of himself, taking the opening set before falling to defeat.
The tone was set early on a sunny Centre Court, with Kokkinakis managing just three points in as many games at the start of the match as Djokovic flew out of the blocks and secured an early break.
Kokkinakis at least got himself on the board with a hold to make it 3-1, but the Australian’s serve was soon under significant pressure again. Three break points came and went for Djokovic in the sixth game of the match but he wasn’t going to pass up a fourth opportunity. A hold to love later and the six-time Wimbledon champion had taken the opening set 6-1.
Djokovic broke early in the second to lead 2-1, and twice getting to 30-30 on the Serbian’s serve was as close as Kokkinakis got to breaking back. Serving at 5-3 down the Australian dug dip, four times finding himself set point down but on each occasion a big first serve came to the rescue. It was a gutsy hold but the break he needed did not follow as Djokovic continued his serene progress and moved two sets up.
A long opening game of the third set eventually brought a break point for Djokovic, which he converted with the help of a wayward Kokkinakis volley at the net. Another break soon came, before Djokovic moved to within a game of victory at 5-1 with yet another routine hold.
Kokkinakis extended the match for another game and got his first break point of the match, as Djokovic threw in a double fault. It was not an opportunity the Australian could take, as the Serbian wrapped up victory with a little over two hours on the clock.
