Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic navigates comfortable passage as rivals sail against the wind

Published on 03/07/2012 00:00

NOVAK Djokovic kept it nice and simple against fellow Serbian Victor Troicki under Wimbledon’s Centre Court roof last night as he needed just 90 minutes to reach the quarter-finals.

The defending champion looked the most comfortable he has this fortnight in closing out a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 victory against his friend and Davis Cup doubles partner. He can begin preparations for his last-eight tie against the winner of the tussle between Richard Gasquet and Florian Meyer, safe in the knowledge that many of his title rivals have yet to complete their fourth-round matches.

Of those fancied for the trophy, only Djokovic and Roger Federer are definitely through, with Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro all frustrated by the weather.

There were no such worries for Djokovic, thanks to the cover of the roof, as he broke the serve of his countryman and Olympic doubles partner six times. Despite appearances, Djokovic insisted afterwards that it was not such an easy match.

“It’s never straightforward. You focus on every point because the players are tough and you always expect your opponent to fight,” he said.

“Me and Viktor know each other so well. When we first played I was nine and he was eight.

“There are no secrets between us but today there had to be a loser.

“I think I have played well in my last three matches, all under the roof, so I don’t know what it will be in the next challenge.”

Djokovic’s first break of serve came in the fourth game. Although he immediately surrendered his own serve when he was off-target with a backhand, he was straight back on top, taking his opponent’s serve in the sixth by forcing him to error with a forehand.

He eased to the set after that and then took the second in just 24 minutes, breaking in the first, fifth and seventh games, forcing Troicki into all manner of errors with some powerful hitting that often left the world number 34 returning from well out of court.

The third set started off more evenly, with serve holding through to the sixth game when Djokovic broke as Troicki floated a sliced backhand wide.

And after seeing off two break points on his own serve in the next game, Djokovic crossed the winning line in some comfort.