Novak Djokovic continues his bid for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title as he takes on Jordan Thompson on Centre Court. The Serbian is the second seed at SW19 but very much the first favourite, as he once again takes to a court that he has not lost on for a decade.
He was not at his imperious best in the first round against Pedro Cachin but it was still comfortably enough for a straight-sets win, and he is one of the few in the draw that remain on schedule amid a hectic backlog after three days of poor weather at SW19.
Britain’s Jodie Burrage was first up on Centre, comfortably beaten by 11th seed Daria Kasatkina, while Iga Swiatek was in a hurry as she cruised to routine win over Sara Sorribes Tormo. Follow all the action from Centre Court with Standard Sport’s LIVE blog below!
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Game, set and match!
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 7-5 Thompson
Good call from Thompson to let the ball go as he moved up to the net again, return flies long of the baseline. That’s long too though, Thompson off-balance with the forehand and the warning lights are flashing at 15-30.
What a time for that then! On the half-volley, at his toes and Thompson flicks it back over the net. Puff of the cheeks from Djokovic. 30-30.
Not this time though, Djokovic gets there and makes the pass. Match. Point. Djokovic.
TAKEN! Thompson nets the volley and Djokovic has a very hard-fought straight-sets win.
Swift Djokovic hold
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 6-5* Thompson
Holds proving a fair bit easier for Djokovic than Thompson at the moment.
Ball sits up for him in the middle of the course, forehand is good enough that he doesn’t have to hit another shot. 40-0 and the pressure is about to swiftly turn back on Thompson.
The Australian throws everything at the return, long. He’d given up on that game.
Thompson hanging on!
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 *5-5 Thompson
Big, big pressure on Thompson. Serving to stay in the match.
Holds his nerve though, Djokovic backhand fired crosscourt but soft hands from Thompson and it’s dropped over the net. That helps too, big net cord and it dribbles onto Djokovic’s side of the court. 30-15.
Backhand long from Thompson, skidded right off the back of the court to him. 30-30 – Djokovic two points away.
Nearly match point and nearly stunning! Superb work from Thompson to run down the drop shot and get it back, before Djokovic is about two inches away from pulling off an outrageous lob. Just out.
HUGE hold. Probably his best volley of the match, earns his first applause from Djokovic.
Thompson will serve to stay in it
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 5-4* Thompson
Brief excitement as Thompson launches the ball high into the air, threatens to spin back onto his side of the court but Djokovic is there to slap the overhead into the empty court.
Djokovic backhand lands right on the baseline, too good there. And we have the latest in a long line of Djokovic shots to earn applause from Thompson, slice winner down the line.
Thompson survives
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 *4-4 Thompson
Still no hint of a break in this set. Will likely only take one to win it.
Djokovic drops a return at the feet of Thompson, turns into a pretty effective yorker as the Australian moves up to the net. Doesn’t need the volley next point, another ace to add to the tally. Make that two aces to add to the tally. 40-15.
“Yep” – Thompson with more praise for Djokovic after a crosscourt winner. Vibe is much friendlier at one end of the court than the other…
Deuce, as Thompson’s volley spins into the tramlines. Dangerous moments here. Djokovic forehand looks long, and it’s called – he challenges unsuccessfully. Followed by a double fault though, back to deuce.
Very, very tight to another one, but it catches the line and Djokovic’s return is wide. Crucial hold.
Djokovic back in front
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 4-3* Thompson
Djokovic has been surpreme on serve all match, ace out wide gets him 30-0. Big ovation for Thompson next point though, he runs down the Djokovic volley and does brilliantly to win the point.
Even louder roar as he flicks a lovely backhand crosscourt and gets to the drop shot that follows, backhand winner down the line. 40-30.
Djokovic glares at the crowd as a timely first-serve seals the hold.
Nothing in it
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 *3-3 Thompson
“Too good” says Thompson as he watches the winner down the line. Nothing more to add to that.
Back to what we’ve become used to though, the Thompson serve getting him through the slightly tricky moments. Another ace, 40-15.
Return from Djokovic lands in the tramlines and Thompson once again levels the set up.
Easy again for Djokovic on serve
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 3-2* Thompson
Weak return from Thompson, before Djokovic gives him a taste of his own medicine with the serve and volley. A string of easy holds so far in this set.
And this is another one, lovely slice down the line from Djokovic and it’s a clean winner. Applause from Thompson as he jogs to his chair.
Thompson not going anywhere
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 *2-2 Thompson
Easy to think Thompson might have dropped off in this third set after the disappointment of the tie-break, but he’s got straight back to work.
Back-to-back aces give him control of the game, and he seals the hold with the trusty serve and volley.
Djokovic edges ahead
Djokovic 6-3 7-6 2-1* Thompson
Djokovic is a long way from his best this evening, back-to-back points where he sends shots halfway up the net. Cramps Thompson up with the first serve though, just as the Australian sensed a chance at 15-30.
And it turns into a routine hold, Djokovic still hasn’t faced a break point in the match.
