Djokovic Steamrolls Into the Third Round at Wimbledon

June 23, 2011 | By David Drucker
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Even when you mention the game of tennis, the first names that come to mind are automatically Federer and Nadal. Novak Djokovic should now be one of those names that quickly come to mind, considering he is playing the best tennis on tour this year.

The Serbian is now 44-1 on the year after defeating South Africa’s Kevin Anderson in straight sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. Djokovic almost looks bored out on court when he’s teaching his opponent a lesson and it only gives him more and more confidence for the later rounds. Coming into Wimbledon, Djokovic in my eyes is second favorite to win the title behind defending champion Rafael Nadal. Though Djokovic has beaten Nadal four, I repeat four straight times, you have to give some respect to the defending champ. Keep in mind; should Rafa Nadal fail to defend his title this year, Djokovic will overtake the Spaniard for the number one world ranking.

In what was almost the biggest upset of the tournament thus far, Robin Soderling of Sweden was able to rally from two sets to none down to beat Lleyton Hewitt of Australia. “Rusty,” as people like to refer to Hewitt, had the big Swede dumbfounded with his counterpunching game. However Soderling kept his cool and kept his serving percentage high, putting the pressure on Hewitt to answer back on his service games. Soderling was able to break Hewitt at 6-5 for the third set, 5-4 for the fourth set, and 5-4 for the decisive fifth set. Next up for Soderling will either be another Australian Bernard Tomic or Russia’s Igor Andreev.

In a matchup of what looked like David and Goliath, 6”6 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina was able to get past 5”6 Olivier Rochus in four sets, 6-7(7), 6-1, 6-0, 6-4. The short Belgian was able to slay the giant in their previous and only meeting in Bangkok in 2010, where Rochus won in straight sets. Mind you this was Del Potro’s first tournament back after almost a year-long injury. Del Potro is on his way to a fourth round monster showdown with Rafael Nadal, but will have a tough test to get there when he faces France’s Gilles Simon next round.

Still left to play on day four is six-time champion Roger Federer of Switzerland, Spain’s David Ferrer, and American John Isner.


David Drucker
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