Djokovic cruises into third round with straight set win over Kokkinakis
By Paul Lagan at Centre Court, Wimbledon
Djokovic v Kokkinakis
6-1, 6-4, 6-2
Novak Djokovic cruised into the third round here on Centre Court with a high-quality professional demolition of Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis, winning in straight sets.
The Serb never looked like losing his serve, let alone a set and crushed the spirit of his opposite number from the first point.
Djokovic demonstrated a range of shot play, the dinked dropped shot worked particularly well, that Kokkinakis could never really answer.
Djokovic took just 10 minutes to win the opening three games against Kokkinakis as day two started on Centre Court.
It was the perfect start for the Serb, who took full advantage of the nerves demonstrated by the hard-hitting right-hander.
A sublime drop shot by Djokovic when 4-1 up and at advantage on Kokkinakis’s serve, deflated him and when he repeated it at set point, there was only one winner and the Serb duly took the set 6-1.
However he easily held his serve to take a 1-0 lead into the second set.,
There was greater resistance by the Australian, but a break and holds by Djokovic saw him move into a 5-3 lead.
He had four break points to win the set but each time Kokkinakis produced an excellent serve to save the game and he eventually won it to make Djokovic serve for the set.
Which he duly did to 15.
Kokkinakis opened the third set and it was dramatic with excellent rallies, advantages, and a Hawkeye call – Djokovic benefited from them all and broke the Australian.
The decisive set went as expected with the No1 seed racing into a 4-1 lead.
With his own serve held, Kokkinakis was facing defeat.
He lost his first point, aced the second, won the third to go 30-15 up, then 40-15 up, and then a service winner. But it only delayed the inevitable and Djokovic produced an excellent game with the occasional quality point won from his opponent giving him an advantage at one stage, but soon it was match point and won with a powerful serve. He thumped his way into the third round with a straight sets win in two hours and 58 minutes.
Top picture, actions from Djokovic v Kokkinakis on Centre Court Picture: Paul Lagan
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