Novak Djokovic, defending Wimbledon champ, onto second round
LONDON (AP) — Wimbledon's defending champion is through to the second round.
Novak Djokovic beat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Monday in the first round, playing the first match of the tournament on Centre Court.
Djokovic, who won the Australian Open this year and then lost in the French Open final, is the man to beat at the All England Club again this year. The top-seeded Serb won his second Wimbledon title last year, and came into this year's tournament with a 41-3 record.
"It's great to be back," said Djokovic, who beat Roger Federer in last year's final. "This is the cradle of our sport, Centre Court. It doesn't get any better than Wimbledon.
"I am privileged and honored to open this year's Wimbledon Centre Court as defending champion. It really is a special feeling."
Kohlschreiber, the highest-ranked men's player outside the seedings at No. 33, had figured to pose a stiff test for Djokovic, who came to Wimbledon after a painful loss to Stan Warwinka in the French Open final and without having played a warm-up tournament on grass.
But the Serb was rarely troubled, seizing command with his all-court game, serving 12 aces and breaking five times.
Djokovic displayed frustration in the post-match news conference when he was asked for a second straight day about comments by his coach, Boris Becker, that they have ways of communicating with each other during matches.
Coaching during a match is against the rules, but Djokovic said that is not what is going on.
"Do you want to say I'm cheating, my team?" he said. "I'm really trying to figure out what's behind this.
"There are certain ways of communication which is encouragement, which is support, which is understanding the moment when to clap or say something that can lift my energy up, that can kind of motivate me to play a certain point," Djokovic added. "But it's all within the rules."
Djokovic was followed on Centre Court by Maria Sharapova, who won Wimbledon title at 17 in 2004. The fourth-seeded Russian also had a trouble-free opener, sweeping to a 6-2, 6-2 win over Britain's Johanna Konta.
One former champion, however, bowed out on Day 1.
Making his 17th and final Wimbledon appearance, 2002 winner Lleyton Hewitt saved three match points before falling in five sets to Finland's Jarkko Nieminen, 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 11-9, in a four-hour battle on Court 2.
The 34-year-old Hewitt has said he will retire after next year's Australian Open. After a warm embrace with Nieminen at the net, Hewitt went back onto the court without his racket to acknowledge the loud ovation and wave to the fans.
Wawrinka also played on Centre Court, and the fourth-seeded Swiss looked sharp on the grass as he beat Joao Sousa of Portugal 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 (3). Wawrinka could face Djokovic in the semifinals.
Fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan was extended to five sets by Simone Bolelli on Court 1 before prevailing 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Other men's winners Monday included No. 7 Milos Raonic, No. 9 Marin Cilic, No. 16 David Goffin, No. 17 John Isner and No. 26 Nick Kyrgios.
Women advancing to the second round included No. 7 Ana Ivanovic, No. 11 Karolina Plishkova and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azerenka.
The highest-seeded player eliminated was No. 9 Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, who fell 6-2, 6-0 to Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia. Zarina Diyas of Kazakhstan upset No. 24 Flavia Pennetta of Italy 6-3, 2-6, 6-4.
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