Wimbledon: Title defence off to winning start for Djokovic

Serb fends off resistance from Britain’s Ward to advance to second round

Afp June 28, 2016

Ward simply did not have enough weapons to stop Djokovic from setting up a second-round showdown with Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON: World number one Novak Djokovic got his campaign for a third successive Wimbledon title off to a winning start with a 6-0, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 victory over Britain’s James Ward yesterday.

The 29-year-old Serb, the holder of 12 grand slams after clinching a first French Open earlier this month, is on target for the record books.

A fourth Wimbledon title would make him just the second man since Don Budge in 1938 to win five straight majors.

It would also put him three-quarters of the way to becoming the first since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar grand slam.

Wimbledon begins: Djokovic aiming for third successive title

Top seed Djokovic, who holds all four majors, goes on to face France’s Adrian Mannarino for a place in the last-32.

“The first nine games were flawless,” said Djokovic, who raced out into a 6-0, 3-0 lead before Ward, ranked at 177, steadied the ship. “James had a few nerves but he was playing better in the second set. Overall it was a solid performance for me. It’s always special to come back to the cradle of our sport.”

Meanwhile, Croatian ninth seed and former US Open winner Marin Cilic saw off Brian Baker of the US 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 and Spanish 13th seed David Ferrer was a 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 winner over Israel’s Dudi Sela.

Rod Laver wishes Djokovic luck with Grand Slam bid

Venus through to round two, Ivanovic falls

In early action yesterday, five-time champion Venus Williams battled past Croatian teenager Donna Vekic 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.

Venus, 36, is the oldest woman in the main draw of this year’s tournament and first won Wimbledon in 2000 when Vekic was just four.

Former world number one Ana Ivanovic was knocked out, losing 6-2, 7-5 to Russian qualifier, Ekaterina Alexandrova, the world 223.

Djokovic wins first French Open title

Ivanovic, the 2008 Roland Garros champion and a semi-finalist at the All England Club in 2007, suffered just her second opening round loss at Wimbledon in 12 visits.

Ivanovic said she was suffering a right wrist injury and won’t play again until the Rio Olympics.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 28^th, 2016.

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