Less than a month after his right knee procedure in Paris, Novak Djokovic made a winning start at Wimbledon! The seven-time champion sailed past a qualifier Vit Kopriva on Center Court, notching a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 triumph in an hour and 58 minutes.
Djokovic delivered his 93rd Wimbledon win, never losing in the opening round at the All England Club. Novak withdrew from Roland Garros ahead of the quarter-final, feeling the pain in his knee and fixing it with a quick procedure.
The Serb recovered ahead of Wimbledon and used a favorable draw to sail into the second round, outplaying Kopriva on serve and return. Djokovic fired ten aces and dominated with his first serve, never facing a break point and converting six out of 15 break points, stealing the rival's serve two times in each set.
Novak held at love in the first game of the encounter with a powerful serve and landed an ace in game three for 2-1. The fourth game turned into a marathon, with Kopriva facing six break points.
Novak kept the pressure on his rival and converted the last after Vit's error, opening a 3-1 advantage and holding at love with a forced error in the next one. World no. 2 generated three break points in the sixth game and seized the first with a deep return, causing Kopriva's error and rattling off ten points.
Storming over his opponent in those minutes, Djokovic produced a hold at love in game seven with a service winner, wrapping up the opening set in 33 minutes after taking the final 14 points! The Serb produced four comfortable holds in the second set and mounted the pressure on the Czech.
Novak Djokovic is off to a winning start at Wimbledon.
Vit denied two break points in the first game, ending his downfall before facing more issues at 1-1 after squandering game points.
Djokovic seized the second break chance after an extended rally, drawing Kopriva's mistake and celebrating a break of serve. Novak held at love in games four and six, moving 4-2 in front before making another push on the return in game seven.
Vit wasted game points and netted a routine forehand on a break point, suffering another break and propelling Novak further in front. The seven-time champion held at 30 at 5-2 with a service winner, opening two sets to love advantage after an hour and 18 minutes and moving closer to the finish line.
Kopriva served well early in the third set, staying in touch and showing more than in the opening two. Novak shifted into a higher gear at 2-2, welcoming Vit's forehand error on a break point and moving in front.
The Serb closed the sixth game with a serve & volley combo, cementing the lead and pushing strong on the return in the next one. Vit squandered game points and Novak produced another break, moving 5-2 in front and serving for the win in game eight. Djokovic fired three consecutive aces, sealing the deal in style and moving into the second round.
