Classic Djokovic coasts past Evans in search of a record

Sometimes Novak Djokovic doesn't need a miracle to win at Wimbledon. There's enough inspiration, divine or otherwise, from his racket to easily swat away those who have the misfortune to cross his path.

- LUKE BAKER

That was the situation Dan Evans found himself in on Centre Court as he watched the winners, all 46 of them, fly past him. Fresh off a confidence-boosting straight-sets win over fellow Briton Jay Clarke in round one, Evans simply couldn’t compete in a 6-3 6-2 6-0 defeat that took just one hour and 47 minutes.

Forty-eight hours after Djokovic’s four-set victory over Alexandre Muller that was harder than he would have liked it to be, even requiring some “miracle pills” to get through a stomach issue, this was exactly what the doctor ordered - no tablets required.

If the 38-year-old’s body is more fragile and unreliable than it used to be, then saving as many bullets as possible for the potential Draper, Sinner and Alcaraz-shaped tests to come is a useful strategy in the quest for that record-breaking 25th grand slam.

What’s also a useful strategy is playing almost flawless tennis. He gave the impression of a man easily shifting through the gears for the challenges ahead, with consistently sublime shotmaking while exuding calm control. “I knew exactly what I needed to do and I executed it perfectly,” admitted a quietly contented Djokovic in his post-match interview. “Sometimes you have these kinds of days where everything goes your way.”