WIMBLEDON, England – Defending champion Novak Djokovic overcame an early scare to reach the Wimbledon second round with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over Britain’s 253rd-ranked Jack Draper.
Twice champion Andy Murray survived a third-set meltdown to beat Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-3 in his first singles match at Wimbledon for four years.
Frances Tiafoe had no doubts about his friend Sloane Stephens’ chances on Centre Court against two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
World No 1 Djokovic is chasing a sixth Wimbledon title and 20th major and is halfway to becoming just the third man in history to complete a calendar Grand Slam.
It’s a feat so rare that Rod Laver was the last man to achieve the sweep back in 1969.
However, as Wimbledon returned after its 2020 cancellation due to the pandemic, the 34-year-old struggled on the slippery centre court surface with the roof closed above it due to rain.
Left-handed Draper, playing just his fifth match on the main tour, saved seven of seven break points in the opener as he stunned the top seed.
But Djokovic soon snuffed out any danger of him becoming only the third defending champion to lose in the first round, by sweeping through the remainder of the tie.
He finished with an impressive 25 aces and 47 winners as his 19-year-old opponent wilted.
Tsitsipas knocked out
Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas became the first big name to exit Wimbledon on the first day of play, losing 6-4, 6-4, 6-3 to Frances Tiafoe of the United States.
It was quite a contrast in fortunes for the Greek who only a fortnight ago lost in five sets to Novak Djokovic in the French Open final.
Tsitsipas has now lost in the first round at Wimbledon on three occasions.
Tiafoe, the world number 57, goes on to face either Canada’s Vasek Pospisil or Roberto Carballes Baena for a place in the last 32.
Murray wins on Wimbledon return
Two-time champion Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon singles match since 2017 with a four-set triumph over Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia.
Murray, the champion in 2013 and 2016 but who has fought a long battle with hip and groin injuries in recent years, triumphed 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 over the 26th seeded Basilashvili.
Now ranked a lowly 118 in the world, former number one Murray will face either Oscar Otte of Germany or France’s Arthur Rinderknech for a place in the last 32.
Meanwhile, Frances Tiafoe had no doubts about his friend Sloane Stephens´ chances on Centre Court against two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova.
“She was coming up; I was going to practice. I was just like, Sloane, I back you to win today. I´m not even worried about it,” said Tiafoe, who went up against French Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas at No. 1 Court.
“She´s cracking up, laughing. She´s like, ‘Well, you better do the same thing. I was like, `Hey, don´t worry about it.”
Indeed, there was little to worry about. Both pulled off convincing victories.
Stephens dispatched the No. 10 seed Kvitova 6-3, 6-4, committing only 14 unforced errors, and Tiafoe beat No. 3 Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.
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