London: Novak Djokovic gave himself seven or eight marks out of 10 after outclassing Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 6-4 6-2 6-3 on a scorching Centre Court to move safely into the Wimbledon third round yesterday.
The world number one and top seed dropped serve in the opening game and was largely subdued in a performance littered with uncharacteristic errors.
Serb Djokovic was still far too good for 33-year-old world number 92 Nieminen, who was playing in his final Wimbledon, and the defending champion was satisfied with his day’s work.
“I would rate probably around seven or eight. I think it was a very solid performance,” Djokovic said.
“I’ve done just enough to win in straight sets.”
Nieminen came out with all guns blazing and reeled off a succession of rasping groundstrokes to win the first two games.
“He started off very well, very aggressive, winners in the first couple games,” Djokovic said.
“I managed to stay calm and believe I can come back. That’s what I’ve done.”
Djokovic broke back for 3-3 and took Nieminen’s serve again to seal the opening set.
“I think the crucial turning point was the 10th game of the first set when I won the set and I started playing more freely,” he said.
“I thought I had the match under control and everything was fine.”
Djokovic will play Australian Bernard Tomic, the 27th seed, in the last 32 and is expecting his opponent to get raucous support from the hordes of green and gold-clad fans.
Also yesterday, fifth seed Kei Nishikori spared his battered body further punishment in the searing conditions after he pulled out of his second-round match against Santiago Giraldo with a calf strain.
Nishikori was not the only one needing medical attention on day three of the championships as a ballboy had to be wheeled off Court 17 after collapsing during American John Isner’s 6-2 7-6(8) 6-4 win over Australian Matthew Ebden.
Nick Kyrgios, the temperamental Australian who knocked out Rafael Nadal last year, ranted and raved at officials for the second match in succession as he beat Argentina’s Juan Monaco 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-4.
French Open champion Stan Wawrinka was in cruise control during a 6-3 6-4 7-5 win over Victor Estrella but Milos Raonic was kept on Court One longer than he would have liked by the oldest man in the singles draw.
At 37, Tommy Haas proved that his patched-up body still had the ability to fight it out with the best even when he is under heavy bombardment.
The German snatched the third set but Canadian seventh seed Raonic hurled down 29 aces, including one clocked at 145 miles per hour, to secure a 6-0 6-2 6-7(5) 7-6(4) victory.
In other early second round matches, Bulgarian 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov defeated Steve Johnson of the United States 7-6 (10/8), 6-2, 7-6 (7/2), Belgian 16th seed David Goffin saw off Britain’s Liam Broady 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-1 and French 21st seed Richard Gasquet got the better of compatriot Kenny De Schepper 6-0, 6-3, 6-3.