Wimbledon: Djokovic overcomes dogged challenge from Korean Kwon | Tennis News – Times of India

LONDON: If you were one of those who questioned the veracity of the statement that has been swirling around the tennis world like an unruly draft, that Novak Djokovic is not appreciated enough by the fandom, then the welcome Centre Court gave it’s defending champion, would’ve sparked a smirk. Love was in the air.
The romance didn’t last very long or so it seemed. As early as the opening game of the first-round clash, a spectator shouted ‘Come on Kwon’ as Djokovic prepared to serve at 40-30. It sounded more like a stand against the Serbian rather than support for the Karaoke-loving South Korean Soonwoo Kwon. And when the world No. 81 ripped a forehand down-the-line to break early in the set, the shout appeared to split the roof that was drawn over the iconic facility on a rain-interrupted afternoon.

Rooting for the underdog isn’t uncommon in sport, especially in individual disciplines. Djokovic’s domination, having been ranked No. 1 for a record total of 373 weeks, motivates spectators to level playing fields. The top-seed’s game is a science not a symphony, a study of geometrical designs, angles and lines; he’s the master of changing pace and direction, giving his shots air before flattening it like a rolling pin on raw dough.
Not surprisingly, the capacity crowd at SW19, got behind the 24-year-old whose soft hands and quick-feet humoured them for the first 72-minutes of the match, until the Serb shifted gears. Monday’s 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win gave Djokovic his 80th match-win at Wimbledon, making him the first player, man or woman, to record at least 80 singles match wins at all four Grand Slam tournaments.

Djokovic, who was cheered on by wife Jelena and son Stefan, touched the grass as the cheers rained down on him. The 35-year-old looked up at the roof, holding his gaze for a tad longer than he normally does, and finished with his signature salutations to the corners of the stadium.
American tennis legend John McEnroe applauded the Serb’s ability to use negative energy from spectators to push him to a new level every time he is faced with growing decibel levels around him.

In other matches, Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina put out the seventh-seeded Pole Hubert Hurkacz, who had saved three match points in the third set before levelling set scores. Fokina did well to stay in the contest mentally, pulling off a 7-6 (4) 6-4, 5-7, 2-6, 7-6 (10-8) win in 3 hours and 28-minutes.
Third seed Ons Jabeur put out Swedish qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund 6-1, 6-3 in just 54 minutes.