By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Friday July 1, 2022
It was business as usual for Novak Djokovic on Day 5 at Wimbledon. It has been business as usual since 2018 for the world-beating Serb...
The top seed worked his way past compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic, the No.25 seed, 6-0, 6-3, 6-4, to set a round of 16 clash with surprising wild card Tim Van Rijthoven.
Djokovic hit 36 winners against just 19 unforced errors and broke serve in six of his 12 return games to lock up his 35th consecutive Centre Court victory in one hour and 53 minutes.
The six-time Wimbledon champion is finding excellent form ahead of the second week, and he’s pleased to be playing some of his best tennis at the event that he has dominated since 2018.
“I thought I started out very well, very strong, with a lot of intensity and good focus,” said Djokovic. The 35-year-old, who dropped a set in his first-round match against Soonwoo Kwon, has now won his last eight sets decisively at these championships.
He has hit 96 winners against 62 unforced errors for the tournament, and held serve in 42 of his 45 service games. The Serb now owns a record of 82-10 at Wimbledon.
Milestones continue to roll in for the legendary 20-time major champion. After his first round match be became the only player in tennis history to hold at least 80 singles victories at all four Slams.
And the quest continues...
The Serb, who is bidding to join Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer as one of four players to win four consecutive Wimbledon titles in the Open Era, is also looking to join Sampras and William Renshaw on the tournament’s list of men’s seven-time singles winners.
Only eight-time champion Roger Federer has won more titles on the men’s side.
“I think I’ve been playing better and better as the tournament progresses,” said Djokovic. “That’s obviously something that you always wish for as a player; that every match you play you raise a level of tennis up a notch at least, and I think that is what is happening.
"I know I can always do better, I always expect the highest from myself, but I think so far so good and I am looking forward to the next challenge.”