Ruthless Djokovic still king of Serbia
It WAS 2013, the last time Novak Djokovic lost on Centre Court, 35 matches ago now. Andy Murray was the victor that day and yesterday’s opponent, Miomir Kecmanovic, was never going to emulate him.
For a start he’s 22 and ranked 25. More importantly, he’s Serbian. So playing Djokovic is not like facing any good player. What was it Jose Mourinho said about his standing at Porto? ‘God, and after God, me.’ that’s Djokovic in Serbia.
Maybe a bit closer. Maybe it’s a tie, or Djokovic bests God by a nose. Either way, for Kecmanovic to have been standing across Centre Court from the greatest living Serb must have been intimidating beyond words.
But Djokovic is not a bad guy. He did not leave his young countryman humiliated or in crisis. He was not casual or disrespectful. He simply played his game.
He won the first set 6-0 to show he meant business and only towards the end did he get a little soft. tennis has a busy Integrity Unit so we have to be careful with our words here but if this was a boxing match one might argue the superior fighter was being kind to his opponent, propping him up a little. He knew he could finish this any time he wanted. He did so at 6-4. Close enough to let the young man off court with pride and confidence intact, not so close to pose any danger to Grand Slam No 21.
Having taken three points off Djokovic’s last six service games, Kecmanovic suddenly broke him for the first time, then held serve. From serving for the match 5-2 up, Djokovic now led 5-4. that was enough — he won the final four points, bent down, touched the turf, then placed a hand on his heart. As well he might. this is a special place for him.
there are only three players who have won four straight men’s singles titles at Wimbledon in the open era — Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. Djokovic is aiming to become the fourth and so far, so good. He looks in great nick, is moving well and playing some stunning shots.
Even without the intimidation factor there were moments when Kecmanovic looked utterly lost before the arsenal he was facing.
to win the second set, Djokovic played a lob so perfect and bamboozling that Kecmanovic was heading towards his chair before it even landed. there were many shots like that. Passes, deliciously placed cross- court forehands, drops, volleys, a barrage of winners that would have tested the best — the players who Djokovic must overcome in week two.
So, for Kecmanovic, it was not just like trying to beat the Queen. It would be like trying to beat the Queen if she was really, really exceptional at tennis and in the form of her life.
Djokovic was 40-0 up in his first service game when the sound of crashing bottles interrupted his concentration with the ball midair. He offered up a double fault, but won the next point. His second service game, however, gave Kecmanovic three break points, including one at the end of a 17-shot rally, at which point the champion got serious.
there was always the possibility that by treating his opponent with kid gloves, Djokovic could fall into a trap, or at least a slumber. Going 0-40 down acted as a glass of cold water to the face. He woke up, saved the three break points, then took the next five for good measure. He never looked back in that first set, winning it to love.
Djokovic has seen his young opponent coming through the ranks and knows he cannot be taken for granted. He can hit, no doubt about that.
In the second set, with Djokovic leading 2-1 and the game tied at 30-30 on Kecmanovic’s serve, the pair shared a punishing 31-shot rally that ended in Kecmanovic’s favour. On occasions, Djokovic would acknowledge good play from his opponent, tapping his palm against his racket in applause. Not that time. A lot of exertion goes into a 31-shot rally. Djokovic was too lost in the moment for pleasantries.
‘ I know Miomir well,’ said Djokovic. ‘We train a lot both coming from Serbia but grass is not his surface. I wish him all the best and hopefully he will get to play on Centre Court at the big tournaments more and more.
‘I thought I started well with a lot of intensity and focus and kept that up for most of the game. I have been playing better and better as the tournament progresses, which is something you always wish for.’
this could make life difficult for his next opponent, tim van Rijthoven of Holland. Djokovic may not know him — they have never played — but he knows his coach Igor Sijsling, a Serbian contemporary, who he grew up playing against.
At the start of June, Van Rijthoven had never won a match on the AtP tour and was outside the world’s top 200. Since then, he’s won eight matches straight, including five against top-30 opponents, and will probably be Djokovic’s 36th successive Centre Court victim tomorrow.
One might think that would make the current champion unpopular, given his sometimes difficult relationship with the public. Not in the least.
Even here, while Kecmanovic enjoyed the backing underdogs always receive — particularly those that lose the first seven games of the match before pluckily saving a break point and holding serve — Djokovic was never cast as the villain.
He got at least as much applause as the ball girl who successfully chased a small bird off court in the third set.