LONDON – Novak Djokovic, the four-time defending champion and heavy favorite, got off to a strong start in his pursuit of a record-extending 24th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon. The Serbian tennis star defeated Argentine Pedro Cachin in straight sets on Centre Court on Monday.
At 36 years old, Djokovic is aiming to equal Margaret Court’s record of 24 Grand Slam titles in the men’s category. He is also looking to match Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon championships and Bjorn Borg’s feat of five consecutive men’s singles titles.
Cachin, though outmatched, showed resilience in the face of Djokovic’s dominance. Despite claiming an early break in the first set, Djokovic only appeared momentarily inconvenienced when expressing concern about the slippery court after a brief rain shower. The match experienced a 70-minute delay as the roof was closed and then reopened.
As the second set progressed, Djokovic raised the level of his play. However, Cachin demonstrated great determination, pushing the third set into a tiebreaker before ultimately succumbing to Djokovic’s prowess. The final scoreline read 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4) in favor of the Serbian champion.
Djokovic’s last defeat on Centre Court occurred in the 2013 final against Andy Murray, making it his last loss on grass to any of the 128 players in this year’s draw. Interestingly, Djokovic has deliberately avoided participating in grass-court warm-up events in recent years.
Reflecting on his opening match, Djokovic acknowledged the challenges of playing without any warm-up matches and adapting to the unique characteristics of grass courts. However, he expressed confidence in his ability to adjust and perform well.
The rain delay frustrated the spectators, but Djokovic emphasized that the court remained slippery even after the reopening of the roof. He humorously remarked, “I usually come out with rackets, not towels.”
Cachin’s performance highlighted the fine margins that separate great players from merely very good ones. Despite having played only one grass-court match, which he lost, Cachin held his own against Djokovic for significant stretches of the match. He even managed to break Djokovic’s serve and take a 3-2 lead in the first set.
Nevertheless, Djokovic swiftly recovered and showcased his exceptional skills, overpowering Cachin’s defenses and clinching the first set in just 42 minutes.
The match was then subjected to a frustrating delay caused by a mild shower. The roof was closed, and Djokovic hesitated to resume play, pacing the court while ball boys used leaf blowers to dry the surface. After a 70-minute interruption, the action recommenced with the roof open.
Djokovic wasted no time in reestablishing his dominance, immediately breaking Cachin’s serve. He combined crowd-pleasing drop shots with powerful groundstrokes and a commanding serve to wear down his opponent, ranked 68th in the world.
To his credit, Cachin remained resilient in the third set, fighting back from a 0-30 deficit at 5-4 down to force a tiebreaker. However, Djokovic shifted into a higher gear and comfortably secured victory in the tiebreaker.
In other matches on Monday, American Michael Mmoh pulled off a surprise win, defeating 11th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada in a grueling four-hour battle. Mmoh, currently ranked 119th in the world, had previously made headlines by reaching the third round of the Australian Open after defeating Alexander Zverev.
Additionally, fourth seed Casper Ruud overcame a slight setback to prevail against French qualifier Laurent Lokoli in a four-set match.
Novak Djokovic’s successful start at Wimbledon sets the stage for an intriguing tournament as he continues his quest for glory and history.
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