He was given a tough test in round one, but Novak Djokovic produced a clinical performance to defeat Thanasi Kokkinakis 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 at Wimbledon. It took just under two hours for the defending champion to seal the win and book his spot in round three.
Time and again the tennis great found ways to stretch his opponent and open up the court and a wonderful array of shots both from the baseline and at the net proved too much for his opponent to handle. The Serbian asserted his authority from the off as he broke the Australian in his opening service game and within ten minutes the Serb raced into a 3-0 lead.
Two booming aces and a big cross-court forehand winner got Kokkinakis on the scoreboard for 3-1. But Djokovic continued his serene progress through the set, which included a delightful lob winner after the 26-year-old tracked down a clever drop shot in the fifth game.
Kokkinakas was under pressure in yet another service game as despite saving three break points with some brave tennis, Djokovic deployed another delicious drop shot, which the world number 79 was unable to retrieve. Djokovic then comfortably wrapped up the second set 6-1 in just half an hour, winning every single point on his second serve.
Kokkinakas on the other hand, who registered a poor second serve percentage at just 33% and eight unforced errors, began the second set with a love hold. Djokovic made inroads into the Aussie's next service game, and had some good fortune when a backhand from the former world number one clipped the tape and landed on the other side of the net out of his opponent’s reach.
A double fault and forehand that narrowly missed its target gifted the 34-year-old another break point, which he calmly converted at the net, before consolidating serve in the following game to lead 3-1. One of the biggest cheers of the match came in the fifth game of the set, when an exciting exchange saw the Kokkinakis try several times to pass Djokovic at the net, but the tennis icon stood resolute before one of his volleys had enough purchase on it to win him the point.
Djokovic produced some scorching winners down the line throughout the match, including a marvellous shot on the backhand side to hold serve for 4-2. Two double faults from Kokkinakis gifted Novak an advantage in the set, but some timely aces and big first serves were enough to save three break points, and forced Djokovic to serve it out.
Several minutes later, Djokovic held to 15 and led by two sets to love after a little over an hour and a half. The opening game of the third set produced one of the best games of the match which featured a gorgeous rally with an array of beautiful slice backhands, as both players tried to outwit the other.
But as was the case more often than not, Djokovic held his nerve and secured the early break in the third set. Another break soon followed and the top seed served out the set 6-2 and claimed an impressive win.
