Djokovic admits he has to be ‘extra careful’

World number one avoids giant-killing at Wimbledon, progresses to third round.

LONDON:

Novak Djokovic admitted he needed to ‘be careful’ after he avoided becoming the latest star to crash out of Wimbledon, recovering from a slow start to defeat American qualifier Bobby Reynolds 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 6-1 in the second round.

While several of Djokovic’s title rivals have fallen foul of the shock defeats and injury withdrawals that have rocked Wimbledon over the last four days, the 26-year-old has progressed serenely to the last-32 and is yet to drop a set.

Both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal suffered stunning losses at the hands of unheralded opponents in the other half of the draw, leaving Djokovic as the only former Wimbledon champion left.



And a defeat for the world number one in his first meeting with Reynolds, the world number 156, would have been just as shocking.

But, although the Serb never hit peak form, he did enough to see off his obdurate opponent with 41 winners and 12 aces in one hour and 56 minutes.

“It’s a bit strange that so many top players lost in one or two days,” Djokovic said. “All the lower-ranked players have an extra motivation to do their best; they have nothing to lose.

“I need to be extra-careful and with the roof closed it was a bit different, I needed some time to adjust to the conditions.

“My game is there. I just need to try to capitalise on my opportunities. Today I was very poor on the break points. I’m glad I’m through.”

Reynolds’ exit was one of the least surprising results in an otherwise shock-filled week, but it did carry historic significance as there will be no American men in the Wimbledon third round for the first time in 101 years.

Angry Dimitrov in protest

Meanwhile, Grigor Dimitrov staged a temporary sit-down protest to register his anger at court conditions before he lost a five-set Wimbledon thriller.

The Bulgarian 29th seed, watched by girlfriend Maria Sharapova, who was knocked out on Wednesday, went out 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 to Slovenia’s Grega Zemlja in a second-round match suspended due to rain yesterday.

When the tie resumed on Court Three after a two-hour delay caused by more rain, the 22-year-old Dimitrov, watched by Sharapova, slipped and fell in his service action at 8-9 to give up the third match point of the tie.

He then stomped off to the sidelines and sat in his courtside chair.

The umpire and tournament referee then decided to wait out the drizzle before play resumed 10 minutes later.

But it did not change Dimitrov’s luck as Zemlja took victory on a sixth match point with a fine forehand passing shot.

“I think a lot of people are talking about the surfaces,” said Dimitrov. “It’s kind of tough sometimes I think for the aggressive movers. It’s tough when the grass is really slippery.”

In other results, German veteran Tommy Haas ended Jimmy Wang’s hopes of a first Grand Slam third round appearance as the Taiwanese qualifier was crushed 6-3, 6-2, 7-5.

Robson keeps British flag flying

In the women’s draw, Laura Robson, the last British woman standing at Wimbledon, made it through to the third round for the first time, beating Colombian qualifier Mariana Duque-Marino in straight sets.

Robson, 19, the world number 38, traded breaks with her 117-ranked opponent in the first set but rolled her way through the second to win 6-4, 6-1 in 73 minutes before an ecstatic Centre Court crowd.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 29^th, 2013.

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