London: Three-time champion Novak Djokovic reached the Wimbledon third round for the ninth successive year with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 win over Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic on Thursday.
Second seed Djokovic said after the second round encounter: “It was the first match this year on Court One. It plays a little bit different from Centre Court, with all the construction. It was a very warm day, it wasn’t easy to play point after point and some long rallies. In the second set, we had long games.
“But overall, from the very beginning I managed to impose my own rhythm and play the game I intended to play.
“I feel better as the days go by in Wimbledon. I have been in this particular situation before many times and I will try to use the experience, knowing what to do on a daily basis, to get myself in the right shape, right state of mind and hopefully the right performance.”
World number 136 Pavlasek was hoping to upset his childhood idol and record his best Grand Slam result by reaching the third round.
“I didn’t know much about him. I tried to get as much information as I could in the last 48 hours. It was a big occasion for him,” said Djokovic, 30.
“I’m sure he can play better than he did today but from my side it was all working well.”
Djokovic recorded his 234th Grand Slam match win in the opening round, taking sole occupancy of second place on the all-time list for most match wins at the four majors ahead of Jimmy Connors on 233.
In Tuesday’s first round match, his opponent Martin Klizan pulled out after 40 minutes on Centre Court due to a calf problem.
Grigor Dimitrov gave an exhibition of his enormous talent, striding emphatically into the third round with a 6-3 6-2 6-1 win over Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis.
The 13th-seeded Bulgarian looked less like his “Baby Federer” nickname and more like the Swiss maestro all grown up as he made light work of Baghdatis, a former semi-finalist at the All England Club.
The 26-year-old, who also reached the last four in 2014, has perhaps struggled to live up to his promise as a youngster.
Yet, having reached the semis at the Australian Open earlier this year before losing to Rafael Nadal in a titanic five-set battle, he showed on a sun-baked Court Two that he has the potential and the game to trouble the established favourites.
The Bulgarian looked intensely focused as he raced through his opening four service games conceding just two points, before breaking for a 5-3 lead and then wrapping up the first set in the next game with his third ace.
It was then a case of simply tightening his stranglehold, which he did by breaking Baghdatis in the first game of the second and again in the seventh, eventually taking the set after a behind-the-back trickshot.
Dimitrov did not have everything his own way in the third, and was forced to save seven break points, but still broke three times himself to claim an emphatic win, which he sealed with a superb diving volley after one hour and 42 minutes.
