Wimbledon 2021: More slipping and sliding at Centre Court as Novak Djokovic wins

Novak Djokovic slid, slipped, skidded and stumbled into the third spherical on Wimbledon’s slick grass Wednesday by beating Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-3.
Djokovic didn’t face a break level and dedicated simply six unforced errors, together with one along with his forehand.

Another Djokovic slip. He’s NOT joyful. #wimbledon pic.twitter.com/O1R8yjRgXx
— SERVE AND VOLLEY (@Serveandvolley9) June 30, 2021
But footing continued to be a problem on the third day of the match, and Djokovic went sprawling a number of instances, as did gamers in different matches and no less than one ball child.
“I didn’t slip just once; I slipped like six times,” Bianca Andreescu mentioned after shedding her first-round match. “The courts are super slippery. I have only played here once before, but they weren’t like this at all. I spoke to a couple other players, and they said it’s not that normal. But this is something we can’t really control.”

On the bottom however nonetheless stored his eye on the ball and returned the shot, just for Anderson to hit it large! Idemooo Noleeee #NoleFam #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/4qaAlgPwqe
— NovakDjokovicUKFan – Linda🐊🦋 (@DjokovicUk) June 30, 2021
Seven-time champion Serena Williams retired from her first-round match Tuesday with a leg harm after she slipped. Roger Federer’s opponent, Adrian Mannarino, needed to name it quits after he fell and twisted his knee.
Persistent rain the primary two days of play created slick circumstances. The climate additionally triggered a scheduling backlog, with 27 first-round matches pushed into Wednesday.
The retractable roof was open when the top-ranked Djokovic was first on Centre Court for his rematch towards Anderson, who additionally misplaced after they performed within the 2018 closing.
While Djokovic endured an up-and-down efficiency on the slippery floor and rose from one spill muttering in frustration, he had little hassle with Anderson. The preternaturally limber Djokovic prolonged one rally by hitting a forehand whereas down on his knee — and gained the purpose.
Djokovic seeks his sixth Wimbledon title and third in a row. By profitable the championship, he would additionally match the report whole of 20 majors shared by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and would wish solely a title on the U.S. Open to comb all 4 Grand Slams in 2021.

Inch-perfect precision from @DjokerNole 😮#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/9dbbrhxV72
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 30, 2021
Andreescu made one other early Grand Slam exit when she misplaced to Alice Cornet 6-2, 6-1. The Canadian gained the 2019 Open however is 2-5 in majors since, together with three opening-round defeats.
Andreescu, who has battled accidents however was seeded fifth, dedicated 34 unforced errors to seven for Cornet.
“I tried to stay positive the whole match,” Andreescu mentioned. “I tried to figure it out, how I can play her better. But honestly, she played really well.”
Yoshihito Nishioka overcame a 15-inch peak disparity to beat 6-foot-10 John Isner 7-6 (5), 2-6, 6-3, 6-7 (7), 6-4. The match befell on Court 18, the place Isner gained a report fifth set 70-68 in 2010.
Also advancing was Queen’s Club match champion Matteo Berrettini, who hit 20 aces and pulled away from Guido Pella 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0. American Sam Querrey upset No. 11 Pablo Carreño Busta 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5.
Former U.S. Open runner-up Kei Nishikori ousted Alexei Popyrin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 for his a hundredth Grand Slam match win. No. 10 Denis Shapovalov moved into the third spherical when Pablo Andújar withdrew due to a rib harm.
In different ladies’s play, French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova beat Ana Bogdan 6-2, 6-2.