Djokovic shrugs off injury fears to reach second round

Novak Djokovic started his bid to capture a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon men's title with a straight-sets win over Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva on Tuesday in his first match since undergoing knee surgery.

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Djokovic eased to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory in a shade under two hours on Centre Court against his 123rd-ranked rival.

Novak Djokovic has now won all 19 of his first round matches at #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/5LuT88hsSN

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2024

The 37-year-old Serb did not face a break point in the entire match, which he sealed with three aces.

Djokovic dominance 💪

Novak Djokovic begins his 2024 #Wimbledon campaign in style with a straight sets win over Kopriva, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 pic.twitter.com/bXobqJ6g5H

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 2, 2024

Djokovic, chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, wore a grey support on his right knee after undergoing surgery on a torn meniscus, which had forced him to withdraw from the French Open after the fourth round last month.

"It was very good. I was very pleased with the way I moved on the court today," said Djokovic after taking his career Wimbledon first-round record to 19-0.

"Obviously coming into Wimbledon this year, it was a little bit of a different circumstance for me because of the knee.

"I didn't know how everything was going to unfold on the court really. Practice sessions are quite different to official match play, so I'm just extremely glad about the way I played and the way I felt today."

Djokovic will face British wildcard Jacob Fearnley or Spanish qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas for a place in the last 32.