Wimbledon, England – World No. 1 superstar Novak Djokovic was an easy opening-round winner Tuesday at The Championships, Wimbledon.
The reigning Australian Open champion and U.S. Open runner-up handled capable German Florian Mayer in 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 fashion on Centre Court at the storied All England Club. The 6-foot-5 Mayer was a Wimbledon quarterfinalist last year, and in 2004.
"It was a big pleasure again performing here on Centre Court in front of the packed crowd," Djokovic said. "For the first round, it was tricky. I think Mayer's game is really well suited for grass, so it took a lot of effort."
The six-time Grand Slam champion from Serbia Djokovic captured his lone Wimbledon title two years ago.
Djokovic was joined in the round of 64 by eighth-seeded former U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro, who dismissed Spaniard Albert Ramos 6-2, 7-5, 6-1. The 6-foot-6 Argentine beat Djokovic in last year's Olympic bronze-medal match on the grass courts here at the All England Club.
In other action involving top-16 seeds, No. 12 Kei Nishikori of Japan whipped Aussie Matthew Ebden 6-2, 6-4, 6-3, No. 13 German Tommy Haas humbled Russian Dmitry Tursunov 6-3, 7-5, 7-5, and Croat Ivan Dodig was leading No. 16 Philipp Kohlschreiber 4-6, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 2-1 when the German retired on Day 2.
Additionally, Aussie Bernard Tomic took out 21st-seeded American Sam Querrey 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-3), 3-6, 2-6, 6-3; 26th-seeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov erased Portuguese Gastao Elias 6-1, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2; 27th-seeded South African Kevin Anderson spanked Belgian Olivier Rochus 6-4, 6-2, 6-1; and 28th-seeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy held off American Ryan Harrison 7-6 (7-4), 4-6, 7-5, 6-2.
Several other men notched first-round wins, including Americans James Blake and Denis Kudla, Canadian Jesse Levine, and Frenchman Michael Llodra.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.