Novak Djokovic. Photo: TAKUYA MATSUMOTO
Another day, another milestone reached for Novak Djokovic as he racked up Grand Slam victory number 350 by dispatching Australia's Jordan Thompson at Wimbledon.
The defending champion was given a thorough workout by Thompson but always looked in control at the crucial moments as he won 6-3 7-6(4) 7-5 to move into the third round.
He joins Roger Federer and Serena Williams as the only players to have reached 350 wins at the Slams, but the 36-year-old has his eyes firmly fixed on higher goals.
Playing with his usual clinical accuracy he eventually subdued Thompson who offered up some thing rare at Wimbledon these days -- some serve and volley tennis.
It certainly kept Djokovic honest but the second seeded Serb, bidding to win a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon and fifth in a row, always looked in control.
Thompson, ranked 70, was within two points of levelling the match at the sharp end of the second set but once Djokovic came through the tiebreak with a couple of timely aces thrown in, there was only really likely to be one outcome.
That said, Thompson, given loud backing by the Centre Court crowd desperate to see a contest, refused to slink away.
But serving at 5-6 in the third set the Australian could not keep Djokovic at bay and he netted a volley to end the contest.
Iga Swiatek. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Superb Swiatek surges into Wimbledon third round
Women's top seed Iga Swiatek outclassed Spain's Sara Sorribes Tormo 6-2 6-0 to sweep into the third round of Wimbledon with a dazzling display.
The Pole started a little slowly and dropped serve early having broken her opponent, but moved through the gears in what was her first match on Centre Court.
Once the 22-year-old found her range with her lethal forehand, the four-times Grand Slam champion was unstoppable as she cruised to a Tour-leading 40th win of the season.
World number one Swiatek, a claycourt specialist with three French Open titles to her name, has found Wimbledon's grass tricky in the past with her longest run coming in 2021 when she reached the fourth round.
She has started her fourth appearance in ominous fashion, however, dropping only six games in her opening two matches.
"I'm happy that I can play such a solid game and kind of do what I was practising," Swiatek said on court.
"I feel pretty confident and pretty happy. Which doesn't happen often, honestly. So I'm happy that this is the first year where I finally kind of feel like I learned a lot and I can really adjust my game to grass courts a little."
Swiatek broke the Sorribes Tormo serve for a 2-0 lead but was broken back in the following game before really stamping her authority on the contest as the sun made an appearance.
Her Spanish opponent played her part in entertaining rallies in the opening set but Swiatek always had an extra weapon in her armoury.
The second set was all over in a flash, meaning the Centre Court crowd were treated to a little over two hours of tennis in the first two scheduled matches of the day.
-Reuters
