Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after beating Alexandre Muller of France of their first-round males’s singles match on the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Tuesday, July 1, 2025.
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was made to work onerous after a powerful begin as he started his bid for a twenty fifth Grand Slam title by beating unseeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7(7) 6-2 6-2 to succeed in the second spherical on Tuesday (July 1, 2025).
The sixth seed, who’s aiming to equal Roger Federer’s haul on the All England Membership and transfer previous Margaret Courtroom within the all-time record of main champions, will tackle British wild card Dan Evans within the subsequent spherical.
“I would not be right here if I did not suppose I’ve an opportunity, to be trustworthy,” Djokovic stated.
“I feel I at all times have an opportunity, I’ve earned my proper to really feel I can go all the best way to the title. I’ve had arguably essentially the most success of any Grand Slam within the final decade.
“It is only the start of the match. There are numerous implausible gamers within the draw. I will be enjoying a Briton within the subsequent spherical. That is going to be a troublesome one, however I look ahead to it.
“I’ve at all times felt like grass, significantly within the second a part of my profession, was actually the floor the place I performed my finest tennis, so why not do it once more?”
Djokovic, who endured a poor yr earlier than lifting his one centesimal tour-level trophy in Geneva forward of a run to the semi-finals of the French Open, powered by means of the opening set in opposition to Muller by profitable six video games on the trot.
Muller put up far more of a struggle within the subsequent set, saving 5 breakpoints to carry for 4-4 earlier than forcing a tiebreak the place he raised his sport once more to battle from 2-5 down and draw degree within the match.
Djokovic caught his breath when the Centre Courtroom roof was closed after which took a medical timeout early within the third set for a abdomen downside, earlier than going up 3-2 with a break after Muller hit his sixth double fault of the match.
Having wrapped up the third set, Djokovic racked up a 4-2 benefit within the fourth set with an beautiful backhand winner and there was no trying again from there as he accomplished the victory by holding to like.
“I went from feeling my very best for a set and a half to my absolute worst for about 45 minutes,” Djokovic added.
“Whether or not it was a abdomen bug, I do not know what it was, however I simply struggled with that. The vitality kicked again in after some physician’s miracle drugs.
“I managed to complete the match on word.” (Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in London; enhancing by Clare Fallon)
Revealed – July 02, 2025 03:53 am IST
