Publications
Partners
London - Novak Djokovic made a highly impressive start to his bid for a first Wimbledon title with a crushing 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 win over Jeremy Chardy on Tuesday.
The Serbian second seed, who has only lost one match all year, overpowered Frenchman Chardy with a superb display of grass-court tennis as the evening shadows slowly made their way across a breezy Centre Court.
"It was quite difficult for both of us, a lot of wind but I managed to get that crucial break in the first set," Djokovic said in a televised interview.
"(Nadal and Federer) deserve the roles of the favourites in this tournament. I am one of those players behind who is trying to work hard and wait for his chance."
Djokovic, wearing a strap below his left knee, broke the world No 54 twice early in the second set to storm to a 4-1 lead.
Chardy often seemed to struggle to return his opponent's powerful shots, one of which ricocheted off the side of his racket and high into the crowd, narrowly missing an elderly lady before being caught by a steward.
The third set was largely a repeat of the second as Djokovic broke the 24-year-old's first service game to take an early lead.
A dejected looking Chardy clawed one game back from the world No two before netting the ball twice to give Djokovic the final break he needed.
Djokovic served brilliantly throughout the match, wrapping up an emphatic victory in one hour 20 minutes.
The Serbian second seed, who has only lost one match all year, overpowered Frenchman Chardy with a superb display of grass-court tennis as the evening shadows slowly made their way across a breezy Centre Court.
"It was quite difficult for both of us, a lot of wind but I managed to get that crucial break in the first set," Djokovic said in a televised interview.
"(Nadal and Federer) deserve the roles of the favourites in this tournament. I am one of those players behind who is trying to work hard and wait for his chance."
Djokovic, wearing a strap below his left knee, broke the world No 54 twice early in the second set to storm to a 4-1 lead.
Chardy often seemed to struggle to return his opponent's powerful shots, one of which ricocheted off the side of his racket and high into the crowd, narrowly missing an elderly lady before being caught by a steward.
The third set was largely a repeat of the second as Djokovic broke the 24-year-old's first service game to take an early lead.
A dejected looking Chardy clawed one game back from the world No two before netting the ball twice to give Djokovic the final break he needed.
Djokovic served brilliantly throughout the match, wrapping up an emphatic victory in one hour 20 minutes.
