By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, June 29, 2015

Philipp Kohlschreiber finally seemed to have Novak Djokovic on the run when Djokovic ran the German right into misery. The world No. 1 swooped forward, scooped up a drop shot and lifted a touch lob that sent his opponent scurrying backward.

The crafty Kohlschreiber tested the top seed at times. When it came to the critical stages, Djokovic played over the German's head.

Djokovic broke serve in the final game of each set, launching his Wimbledon title defense scoring a tidy 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory to advance to the second round for the 11th consecutive year.

Video: A Bird's Eye View of Djokovic's Wimbledon Opener

Reigning U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic defeated Hiroki Moriya, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4). Nick Kyrgios, a 2014 Wimbledon quarterfinalist, swept Argentine Diego Schwartzman, 6-0, 6-2, 7-6 (6). American John Isner blasted 38 aces in a 7-6 (5), 6-4, 6-4 victory over Go Soeda.

Playing his first match since losing to Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final three weeks, Djokovic shook off the rust on the slick, green lawn.

It wasn't his best tennis, but Djokovic should be satisfied with his straight-sets performance against a dangerous opponent who reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals three years ago. Djokovic hit 12 aces against one double fault and won 20 of 28 trips to net.

The top seed slashed an ace on his first swing holding to open. He broke for a 2-0 lead.

Jitters come with the territory playing the ceremonial Centre Court opener and Djokovic's challenge was exacerbated by the fact he had not played a match on grass prior to Wimbledon. Former Wimbledon champion Stefan Edberg, now coaching second-seeded Roger Federer, watched the match from the royal box. Kohlschreiber nearly knocked Federer out of the first round in Halle, holding a lead in the third-set tie break before bowing in his prior grass-court event a couple of weeks ago.

The 33rd-ranked German, who was not elevated to seed status after No. 7 David Ferrer withdrew from Wimbledon yesterday, broke back and held to level at 2-2 as Djokovic worked out the kinks.

In the opening set, Djokovic caught his toss a few times trying to locate the right launching spot. He misfired on his favored backhand down the line and allowed a Kohlschreiber floating forehand to pass only to see it land inside the baseline. Those moments of indecision caused mainly by inactivity. As the match progressed, the eight-time Grand Slam champion's game grew sharper.

Scoreboard pressure — and the Djokovic return game — conspired to crack Kohlschreiber. He scattered his second double fault off the tape to face set point, rubbing his head vigorously as if trying to massage a migraine out of his mind, then put a backhand into net as Djokovic took the first set in 44 minutes. Kohlschreiber conveted just one of six break-point chances in the set.

Attacking at times, Djokovic met most every challenge at net in the second set. In the seventh game, the Serbian moved forward, read his opponent's pass down the line and blocked a clean forehand volley. At that point, Djokovic had won 13 of 15 trips to net in building a 4-3 second-set lead.

Kohlschreiber donated the break to end the first set, Djokovic detonated the break to conclude the second. Drilling a diagonal backhand into the corner, Djokovic erupted in a primal scream, scoring the lone break of the second set to snatch a two-set lead after 83 minutes of play.

Finding his footing after two sets of play, Djokovic began dictating in baseline rallies. He successfully challenged a Kohlschreiber backhand, initially called good, Hawk-Eye showed the shot had missed the baseline and Djokovic broke for a 3-1 third-set lead.

Out of nowhere, he suffered a concentration lapse, double-faulting to face triple break point. Three points later, Djokovic jerked a forehand into net to drop serve banging his Head racquet against the sole of his sneak in anger at giving back the break.

Serving at 4-5, Kohlschreiber felt the tension, clanking a double faul and later curling a slice backhand wide for match point. When Kohlschreiber banged a forehand into net, Djokovic was through to round two.

The first-week adjustment to grass from clay is critical for Djokovic, who has not played a grass-court tune-up tournament since the 2010 Queen's Club. Djokovic won Wimbledon in 2011 and 2014 without a grass-court warm-up. He will face either 2002 champion Lleyton Hewitt or Jarkko Nieminen for a spot in the third round.