These days, Novak Djokovic is making history almost every time he wins a game. On Monday, that’s exactly what the first-seeded Serb did at Wimbledon.
Six-time All England Club champion Djokovic defeated South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on center court, his 80e victory in the grass court tournament. As a result, he became the first player, male or female, to win as many matches at each of the four Grand Slam tournaments.
“It’s always unique to play as the defending champion, to be the first on the pitch,” said Djokovic, who won his 22e game in a row at this tournament. Apart from this year, when Wimbledon made a change allowing us to practice before the start of the tournament, it was always on untouched grass. It really is a unique and special feeling in our sport. »
Djokovic was playing his first game since losing to Rafael Nadal last month in the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros.
However, everything did not go as he wanted.
With the roof closed due to sporadic showers, Kwon was able to place his powerful forehand to his liking. It all fell into place in round two and continued into round three, but Djokovic upped his game and played as he usually does in south-west London — remaining simply unbeatable.
Djokovic has won the last three Wimbledon titles and is aiming for his seventh overall. That would put him tied for second with Pete Sampras and William Renshaw. Only Roger Federer, with eight, has more.
Another major title would give him 21 in all. One less than Nadal, but one more than Federer.
Most of Djokovic’s Grand Slam titles have come at the Australian Open, where he is a nine-time champion. But he was unable to defend his title in Melbourne this year after being kicked out of the country due to Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination protocols.
Despite this problem, the crowd on center court were happy to see him back at Wimbledon.
“I felt supported,” said Djokovic, who could miss the US Open and the Australian Open again because he’s not vaccinated.
“I guess that motivates me more to try and get the most out of this tournament,” he added.
After Djokovic’s victory, Emma Raducanu appeared on center court for the first time. The 19-year-old British player, who won the United States Open last year, was playing at the All England Club for the first time since withdrawing in their fourth-round match a year ago.
“It’s an incredibly special feeling to be back here at Wimbledon,” said Raducanu, 10e seed, who beat Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4, 6-4.
Alison Riske was the first player to advance to the second round. The American, 28e seed, defeated Switzerland’s Ylena In-Albon 6-2, 6-4.
The other top seeds in the women’s draw who qualified are Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit (noh 2), Tunisian Ons Jabeur (3), Belgian Elise Mertens (24), Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina (29). Kalinina will face another Ukrainian, Lesia Tsurenko, in the second round.
Tsurenko’s match was interrupted for around 10 minutes when her opponent, Britain’s Jodie Burrage, rescued a ball boy who was feeling unwell.
Burrage gave the boy a sports drink and nutritional gel before someone in the crowd passed him some chewy candy. The boy quickly got help to leave the field.
French Open runner-up Casper Ruud won his match on Court 12. The third-seeded Norwegian defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(1), 7-6(9), 6-2 .
Also on the men’s draw, Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (noh 5), Briton Cam Norrie (9), American John Isner (20), Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili (22), Americans Frances Tiafoe (23) and Tommy Paul (30) advanced to the next round.
Pole Hubert Hurkacz (7) is the only seed to have suffered elimination. He lost to Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-6 (4), 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8).