Djokovic battles into third spherical with victory over cussed Thompson
Daria Kasatkina and Iga Swiatek dropped a mixed 4 video games as they cruised to victories earlier within the day on Centre Court, leaving the gang counting on one thing particular from Thompson, or one thing particularly poor from Djokovic, in the event that they had been to soak up any kind of drama.
Thompson threatened to ship on what was requested of him, significantly on serve, however Djokovic does probably not do shocks. Not on Centre Court, the place he final misplaced a decade in the past. And so it proved, Thompson retaining it aggressive for big durations however the defending champion, who didn’t face a break level, was comfy sufficient in a 6-3 7-6 7-5 win.
Next up for Djokovic will probably be both three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka or Tomas Martin Etcheverry, with that second-round match one of many casualties of the Wimbledon rain and never scheduled to be performed till Thursday.
Thompson’s serve was ok for 2 opening holds on Centre, the early rallies sufficient to persuade the Australian he wanted to shorten the factors. He turned nearly solely to the serve and volley, initially profitable till Djokovic started to seek out his vary on return. Once he did, lasering the passes with Thompson nonetheless en path to the online, the defending champion broke for a 4-2 lead.
Djokovic by no means regarded like giving up that benefit, successful 15 straight factors on function he strolled to his chair with the primary set secured after half an hour.
There was a robust sense that the second set would comply with a well-recognized sample as Djokovic introduced up a break level within the fifth recreation, Thompson’s temporary engagement in a slice battle proving unwise. He saved that although, and once more held agency within the face of bother two video games later when a well timed ace stored it on serve.
Djokovic in the meantime minimize a quite annoyed determine, his temper not helped by a succession of good drop volleys from Thompson or the more and more partisan help behind his opponent. The “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” chants had been quickly met by an enormous Djokovic roar as he held for 5-5, as each stayed stable on serve to take it to a tie-break
A double fault gave Djokovic the mini-break and that proved sufficient, the Serbian delivering a serving masterclass underneath strain and securing a two-set lead with an ace.
The fourth set handed by in a flurry of comfy holds, neither participant threatening a break of serve. The principal supply of help for Djokovic inside Centre got here from the opposite aspect of the online, Thompson applauding and offering optimistic commentary on plenty of pictures he had no reply for.
Djokovic ultimately returned the favour, clapping his hand to his racket as Thompson produced a shocking volley at full stretch to carry and keep within the match at 5-5. A maintain to like later and the strain was swiftly again on the Thompson serve.
This time it instructed, Thompson requested to provide one miraculous shot on the web too many. Djokovic introduced up match level with a forehand cross and victory was secured because the ball was dropped on the toes of Thompson and he didn’t clear the online with the volley. That proved to be his penultimate shot, the ultimate one coming a couple of seconds later as he launched a ball out of Centre Court, the realisation setting in that even a efficiency of that high quality had not been sufficient to unduly bother Djokovic.