Champ off to a flyer while the chump was the Wimbledon roof debacle

By Paul Lagan at Wimbledon

Centre Court

Djokovic v Cachin 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4)

Novak Djokovic won in straight sets, but it was an awkward game for him, not helped by a needless break in play for more than an hour for rain interruption and a wet court.

Wimbledon had produced a £100million pound roof to prevent just a thing happening and there will not doubt be  an inquest as to how this was allowed to happen.

But the champion came out on top of the occasion, eventually using it to his advantage when his play suggested that a slightly tougher opponent could have taken the initiative.

Djokovic almost took a commanding 2-0 lead in the opening set, but the Argentinian, ranked 68 managed to hang into his serve with a net cord.

Instead it was the second ranked player who was the first to be broken – a misjudged cross-court shot gave Cachin advantage, and then a Djokovic double-fault sealed the deal to make it 2-1.

A chance to go 3-1 up was squared by an unforced door and then some sublime brilliance from Djokovic  which saw him break back immediately to level at 2-2.

Soon it was 3-3.

Cachin’s tactic of coming to the net when serving at 3-4 proved to be almost suicidal as Djokovic passed him with ease to make it love 40. But he pulled it back winning the longest rally of the game at 35 strikes , but ultimately another needless unforced error down the line from a backhand gave Djokovic the game to go 5-3 up and serve for the set< which he duly compiled.

There then followed a lengthy and somewhat embarrassing stoppage in play for the tournament organisers, as rain forced on the covers, then the roof was closed, then the covers were taken off, then the players complained  the surface wasn’t dry, so then a leaf  blower was brought on, then two and then a third.

Play resumed after more than an hour’s delay.

Cachin promptly lost his serve.

But he recovered to hold it to go 2-1 down. Games went with serve with until at 3-5, Djokovic proved his worth and broke Cachin again and nab the second set 6-3.

The crowd were in two minds who to support – the prospect of a comeback and a five-setter was enticing, but so was a straight sets victory which would allow the next game to start.

With that in mind and Djokovic 15-40 on his serve, the comeback option was on.

But with two strong first serves Djokovic brought it back to deuce then a wonderful backspin drop-shot put the game to his advantage.

A second serve ace saw the game saved.

The overall quality of the game was average at best, with Djokovic not needing to overexert himself to win his games, while Cachin always seemingly an unforced error away from dropping his serve.

With that in mind, however both players stayed on serve. There wasn’t a threat of a break to speak of as the set edged towards it’s conclusion.

At 4-4 on Djokovic serve, he produced another wonderful drop-shot. This too was a back spinner but with side and it swerved away from the desperate lunge by Cachin for a winner.

The Argentinian then collapsed on his serve, going to love 30 very quickly. He aced to pull a point, then produced a fine second serve to level at 30 all. A dinked drop shot put Djokovic out of position and he tipped the ball down the line to make it 40, 30 then a winner to make it five games all.

A caressed piece of net play saw the champion take an early lead, and another drop shot saw the game winner to take the third set to 6-5.

And then it was 6-6 and a tie-breaker.

Djokovic took the first point, then a mini-break after a horror double-fault by Cachin. This was followed by another point to Djokovic who hit the ball straight at his opponents feet.

A double-fault by Djokovic brought it back to 3-1 before a fine ace restored the three point lead at 1-4.

Another hit into the net by Cachin saw Djokovic take a 1-5 point lead. Cachin served well to make it 5-2, before another Djokovic drop shot saw the ball returned wide to make it 6-2. He his a simple ball into the net to drop another point, but still three points ahead at 3-6.

A wonderful backhand down the line brought the match back closer to 4-6. Before added the ball into the net to give the breaker 7-4 to Djokovic, and the match by three sets to love.
Pictured top: Novak Djokovic Picture by Paul Lagan