Novak Djokovic makes extra historical past with first-round win at Wimbledon

Nowadays, Novak Djokovic makes historical past nearly each time he wins one other match. On Monday, the top-ranked Serb did simply that at Wimbledon.

Djokovic, a six-time champion on the All England Membership, beat Kwon Quickly-woo 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court docket, his eightieth victory on the grass-court main. With it, he grew to become the primary man or lady to win that many matches at every of the 4 Grand Slam tennis tournaments.

“It’s at all times very distinctive match to play because the defending champion, first on the grass,” mentioned Djokovic, who gained his twenty second straight match on the event. “Aside from this 12 months that Wimbledon made a change so you might follow earlier than the event begins, it was at all times popping out on the untouched grass. It’s actually a singular and particular feeling in our sport.”

Djokovic was enjoying for the primary time since shedding to Rafael Nadal final month within the French Open quarter-finals.

It didn’t all go his method on Monday, nonetheless.

With the roof closed due to sporadic rain, Kwon was in a position to decide his spots along with his booming forehand. All of it got here collectively within the second set, and even continued into the third, however Djokovic stepped it up and performed like he often performs in southwest London – unbeatable.

Djokovic has gained the final three Wimbledon titles and goes for his seventh total. That will put him in a tie for the second most with Pete Sampras and William Renshaw. Solely Roger Federer, with eight, has extra.

One other main title would give him 21 for his profession. Nadal has 22, and Federer has 20.

Most of Djokovic’s Grand Slam singles championships have come on the Australian Open, the place he’s a nine-time champion. However he was unable to defend his title in Melbourne this 12 months after being deported due to Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination protocols.

Regardless of that problem, the gang on Centre Court docket was joyful to see him again at Wimbledon.

“I felt help,” mentioned Djokovic, who could also be banned from enjoying on the U.S. Open and once more on the Australian Open as a result of he’s unvaccinated.

“I suppose that motivates me extra to attempt to take advantage of out of this event,” he mentioned.

After Djokovic completed, Emma Raducanu took to Centre Court docket for the primary time. The 19-year-old British participant, who gained the U.S. Open final 12 months, was enjoying on the All England Membership for the primary time since retiring from her fourth-round match a 12 months in the past.

“It’s an extremely particular feeling to be coming again right here to Wimbledon,” mentioned the Tenth-seeded Raducanu, who beat Alison Van Uytvanck 6-4, 6-4.

The primary participant to succeed in the second spherical was Alison Riske. The Twenty eighth-seeded American defeated Ylena In-Albon of Switzerland 6-2, 6-4.

Different seeded girls who superior had been No. 2 Anett Kontaveit of Estonia, No. 3 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, No. 24 Elise Mertens of Belgium and No. 29 Anhelina Kalinina of Ukraine. Kalinina will face one other Ukrainian, Lesia Tsurenko, within the second spherical.

Tsurenko’s match was halted for about 10 minutes when her opponent, British wild-card entry Jodie Burrage, stopped to assist a ballboy who was feeling faint.

Burrage gave the boy a sports activities drink and dietary gel earlier than somebody within the crowd handed her some chewy sweet. The boy was quickly helped off courtroom.

French Open finalist Casper Ruud gained his opening match on Court docket 12. The third-seeded Norwegian defeated Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 (1), 7-6 (9), 6-2.

Additionally within the males’s draw, No. 5 Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, No. 9 Cam Norrie of Britain, No. 20 John Isner of the USA, No. 22 Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia, No. 23 Frances Tiafoe of the USA and No. 30 Tommy Paul of the USA superior.

The very best seeded participant to lose was No. 7 Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. He was crushed by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 7-6 (4), 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8).