Defending champ Novak Djokovic stars his quest to #24 with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Pedro Cachin to reach the 2nd round at #Wimbledon. 29 consecutive wins at SW19.
Djokovic opens quest for eighth Wimbledon title avoiding farcical rain scenes with straight sets win over Cachin
ATPMonday, 03 July 2023 at 18:17
Novak Djokovic has opened up his quest for an eighth Wimbledon title breezing past Argentinian ace, Pedro Cachin on Centre Court albeit amid farcical scenes with rain delays 6-3, 6-3, 7-6.
Djokovic had to mop up the court himself as the heavens opened and the roof wasn't closed on Centre Court.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion was not best pleased with the conditions still being damp, but after some time off (nearly an hour) they returned with a procession for Djokovic.
Wiping up the court with a towel amid rain delay
As ever with Djokovic there were early signs of rust as Cachin cashed in on this early on by going a break up on the imperious Serbian. He was on serve and leading 2-1 and the break came off a Djokovic double fault, two rare sights at SW19.
But he wasn’t ahead for long as he missed with an attempted backhand volley and Djokovic broke back to level the opening set at 2-2.
Cachin’s early resolve was seemingly broken at the end of the opening set as Djokovic took a break at 5-3 and was set to serve for the set.
Serve he did albeit in dramatic circumstances as the heavens opened and the covers were dragged on just as Djokovic had won the first set but only hours in, the first rain delay was upon SW19.
But while No.1 Court for the match between Iga Swiatek and Lin Zhu saw play resume fairly swiftly and Swiatek herself seal a win at a similar pace, Djokovic was watching the moisture of the grass being checked.
This was followed by farcical scenes as mops made their way onto Centre Court to clean up excess water and Djokovic touched the grass and decided it wasn’t playable.
He took matters into his own hands as he dried the court with a towel and finally play resumed shortly after.
Dominance on resumption
Djokovic continuing his dominance and was not being hindered at all by any rain delays. He breezed to a second set 6-3 with Cachin’s serve being the only weapon to keep him in the tie.
This theme continued by Cachin weathered a mini Djokovic storm and was set for a tie-break at 6-6 if Djokovic could not break his serve to win it 7-5.
A tiebreak it was as the third set headed towards an hour. Djokovic quickly asserted himself and off the back of a Cachin double fault went 3-0 up. He went 5-1 up before they changed ends.
He brought up his first match point at 6-2 in which he had the serve but sliced it into the net and Cachin had the serve to attempt to save more match points.
That he did but on the third match point, Djokovic finally completed the feat.
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