Novak Djokovic cruises past Alexandre Muller to kickoff bid for eighth Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic launched his pursuit of a record 25th Grand Slam title with a composed four-set victory over France’s Alexandre Muller on July 1, advancing to the second round of Wimbledon in front of a packed Centre Court.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion prevailed 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-2, 6-2 in a match that stretched just over three hours.

Despite a strong start, Djokovic wavered in the second set, missing six set points before Muller capitalised in the tiebreak. The Serbian, however, quickly reasserted control, shrugging off a pair of medical visits in the third set to dominate the remainder of the match.

The win marks a promising start for Djokovic, who turns 38 this year and arrived at SW19 after a relatively quiet season by his standards. He recently lifted his 100th tour-level title in Geneva and reached the semi-finals at Roland Garros.

Speaking after the match, Djokovic voiced confidence in his ability to challenge for the title once more.

"I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I had a chance, to be honest," he said. "I’ve had arguably the most success of any Grand Slam here in the last decade. I believe I can go all the way."

Djokovic will next face Britain’s Dan Evans on July 3 in what he anticipates will be a lively encounter on home soil for the 34-year-old wildcard.

"It’s just the beginning of the tournament," Djokovic noted. "There are many fantastic players in the draw. Playing a Briton at Wimbledon will be tough, but I’m looking forward to it."

He also praised the grass surface that has become synonymous with his Grand Slam dominance.

"I’ve always felt that grass, especially in the second half of my career, has brought out the best in me. So why not do it again?"

Djokovic is seeking to extend his lead atop the all-time Grand Slam standings and add to his legacy on the surface that has served him best in recent years.