The two-time defending champion cruises past the South African tennis player in straight sets. Matteo Berrettini downs Guido Pella in four sets.
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Top seed and two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic had little difficulty in getting past the 2018 finalist Kevin Anderson. The 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 victory on Wednesday helped the Serbian cruise into the third round at Wimbledon. His dominant display was evident from start to finish as he maintained his quest to reach an all-time record-tying 20th Grand Slam crown. Djokovic, who is going for his sixth Wimbledon trophy, improved his win-loss record at the All England Club to 74-10. He will next face the winner of Andreas Seppi and American qualifier Denis Kudla.
“Obviously I’m in a high level of confidence after winning [Roland Garros]. But I was nervous coming into this match because I was playing a very good player, experienced player, whom I faced in final three years ago,” Djokovic said. “He’s a big server. He’s very dangerous opponent, especially in the early rounds.
“But I’ve done things on and off the court to make myself feel that I’m focused, yet at the same time calm and composed and clear with my game plan and what I want to do. Obviously did my homework, talked with my coach, worked well on the practice court. I think it’s a combination of all these factors that make you feel confident on the court and to execute the shots that you want.”
Djokovic stretched his ATP head-to-head record against Anderson to 10-2 with the win. The World No.1 has now won all four of their meetings at the All England Club, which also includes the 2018 championship match. Earlier, the South African regularly came to the net for serve and volleys, but Djokovic was up to the task and he claimed the break at 4-3. The Serbian won the last 10 points in a row to close out the first set.
The 19-time Grand Slam champion made the 6’8” South African move from side to side around the court before earning a break of serve at 3-3 in the second set. He went on a roll to bag the set without losing another game. The Serbian was unstoppable in the final set, winning 93 per cent (14/15) of points behind his first serve. He sealed the set in no time to book a place in the third round.
Seventh-seeded Italian Matteo Berrettini started his Wimbledon campaign on Wednesday with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0 victory over Guido Pella of Argentina. Just two weeks ago, Berrettini became the first cinch Championships debutant to lift the trophy at The Queen’s Club since Boris Becker in 1985.
“[My level of confidence was] definitely something that helped me today when things got a little bit complicated,” said Berrettini after securing the win in two hours and 16 minutes. “Sometimes you win also with the confidence that you feel in yourself. Today, especially in the third set, I used that as a weapon to overtake him.
“I know that I have the level [to go far]. I have the weapons. Also, the mental mindset to get there. But every match is a fight, every match is really difficult. I have to go step-by-step now.”
