Few things are more predictable than Wimbledon rain. The sight of Novak Djokovic winning on Centre Court is another constant.
In the first match of this this year’s Wimbledon on the main show court, the 15,000 inside were treated to both.
The 23-time grand slam champion has not lost on Centre Court for a decade and, at the start of his first-round match against Pedro Cachin boasted more wins at Wimbledon than the rest of the world’s top 20 combined.
Not even a farcical rain break, which lasted over an hour and 20 minutes despite Centre boasting a roof, could curtail him in a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 victory.
The rain came down as Djokovic sealed the first set in 41 minutes and there was a delay in getting the covers on and closing the roof.
It meant that, while play resumed on No1 Court almost immediately, instead groundstaff on Centre were consigned to bringing out three leaf blowers to try to speed up the drying process. Djokovic, good-humoured throughout it, even joined in the clear-up by dabbing the back of the court with a towel.
In truth, it was the only real talking point of the match, such was the Serbian’s ascendancy as has long been the case here.
Cachin all too briefly got a glimmer of a look-in when a Djokovic double fault gifted him a break in only the third game of the matchonly for his opponent to break back in the very next game.
At points, the Argentinian pushed Djokovic closely in the rallies but could not trouble Djokovic consistently enough or for long enough, although he did at least extend the third set to a tiebreak, which his rival always led.
Looming over the tournament is the very real threat of Just Stop Oil protestors disrupting the match and there was a notably increased security presence around the court for the first of this year’s tournament on Centre Court.
But the rain aside, there were no other disruptions, Djokovic able to pick up where he left off on the clay in Paris.
Ominously for his rivals with just one warm-up match on grass – at an exhibition match at Hurlingham Club last week – he already looks incredibly at ease on the surface once more
Djokovic will face far tougher tests at Wimbledon this fortnight despite the favourite’s tag but it means his days without a defeat at SW19 will stretch to 2,183 and 29 matches in all.
Afterwards, he said of the rain delay: “It was definitely frustrating for the crowd waiting for us to come out on the court. We both wanted to play but the conditions were not great, still slippery. Once the roof was open it was a different story.
“This is the Holy Grail or temple of tennis. This court is really special. What a second home to have. It doesn’t get much better than Wimbledon. I try to take any minute I spend on the court for granted. It’s a wonderful feeling to be here.”
