Well that was easy enough for Djokovic, wasn’t it? He was almost as delayed by the autograph hunters as he was by Tomic. Speaking of the autograph hunters, there were the usual calls for selfies and signatures but one guy asked him to sign his artificial leg! Anyway. That’s all from me. Enjoy the rest of your Friday. Bye!
Updated
Game set and match to Djokovic!
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 Tomic (*denotes server): The Serb takes the lead and a cross-court forehand from Tomic that is hit too long makes it 30-0. That is soon translated to 40-0. He serves an ace and the crowd stand up and clap but it has hit the net and they have to sit down again. Tomic wins a point but it only delays the inevitable. He ends it all with an ace.
Updated
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 5-3 Tomic* (*denotes server): The officials change and Tomic serves to stay in the game. He gets off to the start he needs via a well-placed volley and that gets even better when Djokovic can only put the ball between the wrong lines after it struck the net. 30-0 soon becomes 40-0 and that soon becomes games to Tomic. Djokovic will serve to take the game, set and match.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-3, 5-2 Tomic (*denotes server): Djokovic goes 15-0 to the good but a long – and incorrectly challenged – cross-court shot from Tomic levels the game. Djokovic reclaims the lead once more and Tomic drags himself back level once more. Tomic overhits a backhand at the end of a rally to give his opponent the lead. Seconds later, he takes the game and gives out a roar.
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 4-2 Tomic* (*denotes server): A wayward return from the Aussie ushers Djokovic into the lead. That is stretched even more when Tomic finds the net thanks to some slow feet – his Achilles heel, so to speak – and a ball to the net. He drags himself back to 30-40 – the crowd love that! – and then to deuce. Is another miraculous recovery on the cards? It sure isn’t. Tomic is broken and like the tide, there is no stopping Djokovic now.
Updated
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-3, 3-2 Tomic (*denotes server): Tomic is really going for it now and really making Djokovic work for his win, but why did he wait so long to do so? Anyway. Despite the work-rate, there is no stopping Djokovic in this game.
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 2-2 Tomic* (*denotes server): Terry Wogan is in the house and he is rocking a serious set of shades. Like something from Terminator. The first point is settled by a mishit forehand from the Australian and the second thanks to another error on his part. The third is much nicer. It’s a perfectly placed lob by the Serb that leaves Tomic looking deflated. He keeps his head clear though to make it 30-40 and makes it deuce with a great backhand down the line that Djokovic cannot even get close to. That might be his best shot of the game. The crowd go wild when he reaches advantage and even madder still when he wins it.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-3, 2-1 Tomic (*denotes server): A superb, aggressive return from Tomic gives him an early lead. Why can’t he return more like this throughout the match? He challenges – correctly – on the next point and makes it 0-30 but Djokovic wakes up from his slumber and comes right back into the game. 15-30. 30-30. 40-30. Game.
Third set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 1-1 Tomic* (*denotes server): Tomic holds but only just.
Third set: Djokovic* 6-3, 6-3, 1-0 Tomic (*denotes server): Djokovic is cruising out here but Tomic puts the pressure on in the opening game of this set by sneaking into a 0-30 lead. He couldn’t, could he? He might do as he is now 0-40 up after Djokovic over-lobbed. Three break points it is. He loses the first via a forehand into the net with Djokovic going the wrong way. He loses the second after the Serb takes yet another rally which was characterised by a real lack of movement by the Aussie. He thinks he has won the third because it looks like Djokovic has hit long but a challenge tells us otherwise. We are soon up to deuce. An ace takes Djokovic to advantage and a perfectly placed forehand means he holds.
Updated
Djokovic wins the second set 6-3
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 6-3 Tomic* (*denotes server): Tomic is, once more, serving to stay in a set. He gets off to a terrible start as Djokovic takes a 0-40 lead. Set point it is. Djokovic loses the first one but not the second, thanks to some sensational defence and sliding skills from the Serb. Tomic had him pushed from side to side but failed to kill him off. That was poor from him and he has paid the price.
Updated
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 5-3 Tomic (*denotes server): The crowd go silent and Djokovic serves. Tomic roars into a 0-30 lead via two unforced errors. He couldn’t, could he? Not if Djokovic has anything to do with it. He pushes Tomic wide and slams a shot down the other side. Tomic then gives him a helping hand by tamely rolling the ball into the net. That was nice of him. Here comes the rally and guess what? Yup! Djokovic wins it. But what’s this? A luscious lob from Tomic brings the game to deuce. Djokovic screams at himself, Lord knows why, he has just won the point ... and the game.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 4-3 Tomic* (*denotes server): Tomic inserts some urgency into his game and wins the first point by sliding the Serb out wide and executing the point near the net. Djokovic soon draws level, though, and soon takes the lead via a weak and badly placed backhand from Tomic. The Australian recovers but cannot cope with Djokovic who pushes his opponent around the court and takes the lead. Break point. It’s a longish rally and it ends with Tomic hitting the net and Djokovic smiling, if not outwardly. Any time they go into a longish rally, you can bet your bottom dollar the Serb will come out on top.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 3-3 Tomic (*denotes server): Tomic’s first return lands outside the designated area while his second and third version meets and greets with the net. Djokovic then sends him the wrong way before sending the ball into oblivion. He won’t get an easier hold than that.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 2-3 Tomic* (*denotes server): Oh! What’s this? 15-0. 30-0! 40-0! Game? Not yet. Djokovic keeps himself in the game with a lengthly backhand. But he is only in it for a moment or two before Tomic takes it.
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 2-2 Tomic (*denotes server): The brightly T-shirted Australians in the crowd have got their voices out to see if it does there man any good. Well, does it? Not quite. A smart near-net shot from Djokovic give his a 15-0 lead and more of the same, after an interesting rally, sees him double that. Tomic is talking to himself as he tries get his arse back in gear. It doesn’t help. Djokovic goes 40-0 to the good and soon takes the game.
Updated
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 1-2 Tomic* (*denotes server): Tomic takes this one ... but once again, none of it passes by my eyes as the internet is stuttering right now. Damn you BT!
Second set: Djokovic* 6-3, 1-1 Tomic (*denotes server): He is not, however, struggling with his serve or his near-net volleys, both of which have given him a 30-0 lead. Out comes the 40-o mark and out comes a fierce forehand that forces Tomic to overhit down the line.
Second set: Djokovic 6-3, 0-1 Tomic* (*denotes server): More woe for Tomic as Djokovic takes the first point. But back comes the Aussie to make it 15-15 and then 30-15. Djokovic looks angry with himself and well he should. Two poor efforts from him mean that Tomic has taken the first game. Djokovic is struggling with his forehand somewhat today.
Updated
Djokovic wins the first set 6-3
First set: Djokovic* 6-3 Tomic (*denotes server): So Djokovic serves to take the set. He gets off to a blistering start, taking the first two points but is slowed down by an outside-the-lines return that was an awkward one to take of since it came via a brush with the net. Two unforced errors later, the set is his.
First set: Djokovic 5-3 Tomic* (*denotes server): Tomic is serving to stay in the set. He gets off to a poor start, volleying into the net from close range when the point was at his mercy. Djokovic gives him a lifeline by overhitting a forehand, twice. 30-15 it is. Djokovic then repeats the process two more times to give Tomic the game.
Updated
First set: Djokovic* 5-2 Tomic (*denotes server): Djokovic wins the match’s first love game thanks to some stern forehanding on his part and some ridiculous mistakes from his Aussie opponent. Oh Tomic!
First set: Djokovic 4-2* Tomic (*denotes server): Tomic comes out fighting and a serious forehand – with the Serb going the other way – gives him the lead. That is thrown away just seconds later but then something very rare happens, Djokovic fails to return a serve. He makes up for that by taking the next point. Two more errors from Djokovic gives Tomic the game. That’s better from him.
First set: Djokovic* 4-1 Tomic (*denotes server): Djokovic looks very comfortable out there. He has just pulled out another great lob to make it 30-0 and two powerful and precise aces sees him to victory in this game. This could get very ugly for Tomic very quickly.
Updated
First set: Djokovic 3-1 Tomic* (*denotes server): The lads have had their rest after that long game and are back out. Tomic knocks out an ace to get us going before a sensational lob from Djokovic levels proceedings. Tomic decides to send a weak forehand into the net on the next point and a superb forehand from Djokovic makes it 15-40. Moments later, the Aussie is broken. How important will that be?
First set: Djokovic* 2-1 Tomic (*denotes server): It comes back with this game at 15-15. A long rally ensues and ends with Djokovic placing a delicate forehand down the line to make it 30-15. He takes the next point no sweat but Tomic forces him to overhit a backhand just after that. Tomic then repeats the process to make it deuce. A fantastic rally dotted with slice and spin leads to Djokovic taking advantage but that falls away thanks once more to another overhit effort from the defending champion. Djokovic invites Tomic into the net with a well-placed drop shot but Tomic can only push his return down the line and out. Nonetheless, we are soon back to deuce. And back to advantage Djokovic (via an ace). And back to deuce. (We are almost at seven minutes for this game.) And back to advantage Djokovic. Finally, the Serb takes it.
Updated
First set: Djokovic 1-1 Tomic* (*denotes server): It is vital that Tomic gets off to a good start but he loses his first serve. He comes roaring back on the second and third point before Djokovic backhands one into the net. 15-40. Tomic uses a challenge on the next point ... and that is when my internet takes a quick break. All I can tell you is Tomic won eventually.
First set: Djokovic* 1-0 Tomic (*denotes server): Here we go, here we go, here we go, go, go! Djokovic gets us going and Djokovic takes the first point of the match with a routine forehand that speeds across the court. Tomic overhits on the next point to ensure the Serb doubles his lead. An ace – Djokovic’s 21st of the tournament – makes it 40-0 and his 22nd gives him the first game.
Some interesting news from Court 2. Nick Kyrgios has knocked out the No7 seed Milos Raonic. Meanwhile, back on Centre Court, Tomic and Djokovic are toking away in their warm-up. Tok, tok, tok.
34 aces & 61 winners send #Kyrgios into R16. The young Aussie d. No.7 seed #Raonic 5-7 7-5 7-6(3) 6-3. #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/hBu01q3B2g
— ESPNTennis (@ESPNTennis) July 3, 2015
Updated
The inserting of this video will only make sense if you have read the preamble in full:
Yes, in full.
Updated
Good afternoon
Years and years ago, when my family was trying to be more middle class than it really was, mum and dad packed us into a car and onto a boat for a camping holiday in France. This was back when francs were in fashion and it cost five of them to play an arcade game – maybe is was Golden Axe? Remember Golden Axe? Did you choose the axe-wielding dwarf, Gilius Thunderhead too ? – and cassettes were the order of the day. Dad was knee deep in his music, especially crooners and country and soul. He had one with the song called Like Sister and Brother. The song was made famous by the Drifters but in my memory this version is sung by someone like Neil Diamond or Glen Campbell, or maybe it was Tony Clarke, someone like that. Anyway the song. Are you familiar with it? It contains the lines. “Like sister and brother, we’ll wave to each other, we don’t want all the world to know we are really lovers, so, we’ll talk about the weather, ‘til we’re alone together ...” Yada, yada, yada. That’s weird isn’t it? Comparing lovers to sisters and brothers. But the oddness is not the reason for bringing up that song. It’s because we need to talk about the weather. And we need to talk about the weather and Bernard Tomic.
Bernard Tomic is from Australia. More accurately, he is from Queensland. He now resides in Monaco. The most blazingly obvious thing these two places have in common is that they reside under a blazingly obvious sun. And yet, his last match under the London sun – a something of a slog of a win over France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert – proved to be something of an ordeal for him. “I didn’t sleep well yesterday and the day before – probably getting three or four hours of sleep,” he said after his victory. “It’s been too hot. I was fatigued and starting to get dizzy out there with the heat hitting me. It was tough, so I had to slow things down. I had to catch my breath.” OK, he had to do his thing on the hottest day of the year but still, you would have thought he could’ve dealt with it all a bit better. That match went to four sets and it’s safe to say he will have spent the hours, minutes and seconds since sitting on his arse trying to get as much rest in as possible. He is going to need it.
You know that dream you have where you are falling and you are hella scared and you wake up with sweat cascading down your body and your heart pumping like the beat at an early 90s rave? That must be how other players feel when they have to play Novak Djokovic. It is certainly how Jarkko Nieminen looked the other day when the Serb took him apart in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. It took Djokovic just and hour and 31 minutes to complete the job; Tomic took an hour and 59 minutes. Twenty eight minutes might not sound much to you or your neighbour or your neighbour’s cousin’s second child but at this level of elite sport, in this heat, it is almost a lifetime and it could have a profound effect upon’s Tomic’s chance of taking anything from this match.
Of course, it’s not just the weather that is a deciding factor. Djokovic got game by the bucket loads. As my colleague, Kevin Mitchell pointed out after that stroll against Nieminen, he is “the best player in the world [and] remains the logical favourite to win this title for a third time.” Tomic, least we forget, has game by the bucket loads too, it’s just that his buckets are not as powerful or skilled as well-rounded as Djokovic’s. Nonetheless, this is going to be a stern test for the reigning champion and Tomic won’t go down as easily as an ice-lolly on a hot day. There we are, back to talking about the weather. Ah, now I remember who it was! It was Tony Christie! Tony bloody Christie!
