Wimbledon 2018: Novak Djokovic hits back at critics destroying Tennys Sandgren
NOVAK DJOKOVIC issued notice last night that reports of his demise as a Wimbledon force may have been greatly exaggerated.
The 31-year-old Serb has endured 12 months of torment since retiring in last year’s quarterfinal against Thomas Berdych with the elbow injury which has proved such a bugbear since.
But after taking six months out to try to sort the issue naturally, splitting with coach Andre Agassi and then reluctantly undergoing surgery in January, Djokovic returned with a vengeance to his favourite stomping ground on Tuesday.
He destroyed beleaguered American Tennys Sandgren in just 93 minutes on No 1 Court to remind Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal that he could yet be a threat.
Can he add a fourth Wimbledon title to his collection? It is probably stretching credibility to expect that but he can be a factor at these championships.
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Being part of Wimbledon is always a great privilege for any player and I’m no different
He hinted at what could be to come with a run to the quarter-final of the French Open before reaching the final at Queen’s but even so his name was not that on most people’s lips headed into these championships. That may change now.
“It was quite refreshing to have a great week at Queen’s – I haven’t played in a final for over a year – so I’m really looking forward to seeing how I progress in these championships,” he said.
“Being part of Wimbledon is always a great privilege for any player and I’m no different.
“I wanted to start off well. I didn’t want to give any opportunity for him to start to believe he could come back into it and it was quite a solid performance.
“My level will get better as I play hopefully – that’s what I’m aiming for – keep on raising it.”
Djovokic took the initiative from the start with the help of 17 unforced errors from the sloppy Sandgren in the opening set. The World No 56 was broken twice more in a second set which Djokovic closed out with consummate ease.
Former champion John McEnroe had questioned whether Djokovic still possessed the desire to win Grand Slams ahead of the match, claiming he no longer saw the fire in his eyes.
The eyeballs-on-stalks glare he delivered to his team after breaking Sandgren in the first game of the third set suggested otherwise.
He hardly needed luck such was his dominance but he had it all the same with a fortunate net cord falling his way en route to another service break.
Djokovic’s guard slipped in his next service game which Sandgren picked off but after some token resistance from the punchdrunk American, he was broken to love in the seventh game before the No 12 seed closed out the match emphatically.
He dropped just six games in what was, frankly, an exhibition.
The only issue he had all game was with the dipping sun. The white cap was on one minute; off the next. Sandgren needed a white flag of surrender.