Novak Djokovic Struggles As Roger Federer Cruises

4 months ago 25th Jun 10:57

On what was another lovely day at Wimbledon yesterday Novak Djokovic was still struggling to recapture the form that saw him win in the Australian Open back in 2008.

While he won in straight sets his first set performance was less than impressive as he went down a break of serve to German Simon Greul and it looked like another hard fought four set match was on the cards.

The world number four, who went out in the second round last year, looked completely out of sorts as the first set was a tight affair that he finally edged 7-5 after some lovely play from the German.

But one set under his belt did little to settle Djokovic as he immediately went a break down in the second and he vented his frustration on his racquet.

But that seemed to be just what the doctor ordered as he reeled off eight straight games to seal the second set and take a lead in the third.

The twenty two year old was in control from there as he won 7-5 6-1 6-4. He will now face American Mardy Fish and will need to improve drastically if he has hopes of going deep into the tournament.

But there was no such trouble for tournament favourite Roger Federer who cruised to victory 6-2 6-2 6-4 over Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

There was little resistance from Garcia-Lopez, who has had a good run of form into the tournament, but Federer just outclassed him in every department to wrap up a victory in an hour and a half.

Fernando Verdasco was made to fight for his place in the third, surprising after his first round display, by Belgium's Kristof Vliegen.

The three hour epic saw the Spaniard taken to a tie break on three of the four sets as he struggled to dominate and dictate play over his opponent and there was little to separate the two players for the entire match.

Verdasco at last got a handle on the game in the fourth set to break and wrap up a victory 7-6 (7-3) 6-7 (3-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.

It was a day of five set thrillers on the men's side of the draw as Tommy Robredo came from two sets to love down against Stefan Koubek. There was a epic on Centre Court between Marin Cilic and Sam Querrey that went late into the evening.

The big hitting pair traded serves and forehands as they went all the way before Cilic held his nerve in the fifth, playing better and better as the match went along, to win 4-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-4.

But Tommy Haas faced less trouble as his opponent Michael Llodra had to retire from the match after colliding with a ball girl and the umpire's chair.

Jo-Wilfred Tsonga didn't even break a sweat as Bolelli retired from their match before they had even walked on court.

There were also wins yesterday for big hitters Robin Soderling, Ivo Karlovic, Mardy Fish and Philipp Kohlschreiber.