Novak Djokovic made a statement of intent with a quick-fire win over Stefanos Tsitsipas to reach the third round of Wimbledon.
Taking to the court several hours after Jannik Sinner had laboured to victory over Nuno Borges, Djokovic needed only an hour and 38 minutes to beat a man he has toppled in two grand slam finals 6-3 6-4 6-2.
Djokovic struggled in round one against an inspired Wu Yibing but was sharp from the first ball until the last against Tsitsipas, hitting 33 winners and only seven unforced errors.
“Obviously you feel very satisfied and joyful on the court when you’re playing this way,” said Djokovic.
“I feel great, I try not to take these moments for granted. I feel very privileged to be walking out on the court at age 30 plus.”
Turning to golfing stars Rory McIlroy, who had donned his Masters green jacket for the occasion, and Justin Rose in the Royal Box, Djokovic added: “I actually believe it’s true, age is just a number.
“And two people who know about that are in the Royal Box, Rory and Justin. I want to thank them for being present, they arrived early and stayed all day.”
This was the earliest Djokovic and Tsitsipas had ever met in a regular tournament, a result of the Greek’s tumble down the rankings to 87th.
Tsitsipas won two of their first three matches but has now lost 12 in a row, including both his grand slam finals – the French Open in 2021, when he led by two sets to love, and the Australian Open two years later.
It was nearly 8pm when the pair took to Centre Court, which already had its roof closed in anticipation of darkness, and Djokovic’s primary objective appeared to be to wrap up victory before the 11pm curfew.
He was aggressive from the off, looking to attack the vulnerable Tsitsipas backhand at every opportunity.
Cheered on by Hollywood actor Ben Stiller, who was in his support box along with the Serbian’s wife and two children, Djokovic broke serve in only the fourth game.
Tsitsipas immediately had three chances to hit back but they were to prove his only break points until the final game of the match, and he crouched on his haunches in disappointment after sending a forehand narrowly wide on the third.
Djokovic, whose only loss in the second round here came in 2008, wrapped up the first set in only 27 minutes, and he took a stranglehold on the contest by breaking for a second time in the ninth game of the second set.
It was peak Djokovic, the seventh seed showing unfathomable powers of defence for a 39-year-old by retrieving two smashes, landing a lob on the baseline and eventually drawing the error from Tsitsipas.
With Tsitsipas off the court to change his clothes, Djokovic played a prank on a ball girl who he had asked to cut some tape off his shoulder, pretending she had nicked him with the scissors.
“I guess these kind of things surface when you’re two sets to love up,” he said a little sheepishly. “I’m sorry if I scared you. It probably was not that great of a joke.”
It was a sign of how relaxed Djokovic was and he overcame the briefest of late wobbles after a stellar period of play, saving two break points in the final game, to set up a clash with France’s Arthur Rinderknech.
