Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic brushes aside Stan Wawrinka while Carlos Alcaraz is given stern workout | Tennis News

Novak Djokovic brushed aside the problem of outdated foe Stan Wawrinka of their first Wimbledon assembly while world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz was given a stern take a look at of his title credentials.

The match didn’t start till 8.40pm, an hour later than Andy Murray and Stefanos Tsitsipas acquired underneath means on Thursday, however Djokovic completed a 6-3 6-1 7-6 (7-5) victory with 14 minutes to spare earlier than the dreaded curfew to ebook his place within the fourth spherical.

The Serbian is now undefeated on Centre Court for a decade along with his final loss on the world’s most well-known tennis courtroom coming towards Andy Murray on July seventh, 2013.

It was a thirty first consecutive victory for Djokovic on the All England Club, equalling Pete Sampras’ greatest, and the seven-time champion stated: “He was two points away from extending this match to another day. Coming to the court we knew it was going to be really tight.

“I do know I can all the time play higher, I all the time have a few gears that I can go larger. Hopefully because the match progresses I can play higher and higher.”

Djokovic pounded precision groundstrokes into the corners, again and again drawing errors from his opponent after thumping exchanges.

Wawrinka’s statistics didn’t make fairly studying however it might be harsh to criticise the veteran an excessive amount of, aside from a really low first-serve proportion, given the barrage of high quality coming from the opposite finish.

He served a lot better within the third set and fought exceptionally exhausting to drive a tie-break.

Djokovic had gained his final 11 tie-breaks at Grand Slams, famously not making an unforced error in six on the French Open. That report was in peril right here when Wawrinka went 5-3 up however he was unable to ship the competition to a second day as Djokovic booked a date with Hubert Hurkacz.

Speaking concerning the Polish seventeenth seed, Djokovic stated: “His serve is extremely powerful and he covers the court very well,” Djokovic stated of his subsequent opponent. “He has very long arms and he has a very good feel at the net.

“He’s simply total a really full participant. I do not see too many holes in his recreation. I do know that is going to undoubtedly be the hardest problem for me of the match up to now.

“He’s very comfortable playing on grass. He hasn’t dropped a set in the tournament so far and he beat [Roger] Federer here some years ago. It’s going to be great battle. I look forward to it.”

Carlos Alcaraz needed to work exhausting on his second Centre Court look at Wimbledon to earn a straight-sets victory over Alexandre Muller in spherical two.

Alcaraz was given a stern examination by France’s Muller throughout a contest that lasted two hours and 32 minutes, however finally progressed 6-4 7-6 (7-2) 6-3.

It made it seven consecutive wins on grass for the highest seed, who is seen by many because the most probably candidate to cease Djokovic in his pursuit of a record-equalling eighth title on the All England Club.

“I feel that I belong in that court. I feel like I’m ready to play more matches, to play more great matches on that court,” he stated.

“There’s a lot of great players playing here on grass, that feel really, really comfortable on grass. I have to be really, really focused until the final.

“It’s plenty of matches forward. I can not chill out. I’ve to play my greatest in each match. Let’s see if I attain the ultimate or not.”

Impressive wins for Rune, Berrettini & Medvedev

Holger Rune dazzled the packed crowds as he beat Spain’s Roberto Carlos Baena to storm into the third spherical.

The charismatic 20-year-old produced his full repertoire of silky shot-making to win 6-3 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.

Rune turned solely the fourth Dane to achieve the lads’s third spherical at Wimbledon and the primary for practically 20 years.

“He made it very difficult and didn’t give me anything for free, but I think I managed to raise my level and close to the end I got unbelievable support from the crowd,” Rune, who twice needed to get well service breaks within the opening set, stated on courtroom.

“I love getting the fans involved, it was unbelievable, really cool and I hope we can bring it all the way.”

Rune’s recreation type and informal manner have made him a success with younger followers who chanted “Ruuuuune” at common intervals, and he responded with some beautiful winners and gained a large number of factors with cunningly disguised drop photographs.

Matteo Berrettini shocked Australian fifteenth seed Alex De Minaur with a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory on Court 18 because the Italian appears to rediscover his kind after accidents which have left him exterior the world’s prime 30.

“Last year, what happened last year is something that I think it didn’t heal yet. It’s a really sharp pain, if I think about it,” he stated.

“I probably was in the best shape in my career, especially feeling great on grass. I wanted to enjoy the tournament. Such a special tournament for me.

“Not with the ability to play was one thing that, even once I was higher bodily, was actually powerful mentally to beat.

“That’s why I’m here this year, because I missed last year. I was really sad. Even playing like a few points would have been good this year.

“That’s why I’m actually joyful. I’m actually glad. I do know it is the third spherical, nevertheless it appears like far more.”

Third seed Daniil Medvedev superior with a 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-5) win over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino on Friday after their match was suspended resulting from dangerous gentle yesterday.

The Russian was indignant when play was suspended on Thursday night while he led by two units with the rating at 4-4 within the third.

Medvedev returned to Court Two and duly accomplished victory to arrange a third-round assembly with Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics.

“It’s not easy to play two different days. The last time I had it, I lost to Hurkacz here two years ago,” he stated.

“At 4-4, it’s never easy. Straight away you’re nervous, you don’t want to lose this set because the momentum of the match can change.

“So I’m joyful that I managed to shut it out on the tie-break. Happy that I managed to push it via and be right here tomorrow.”