Thats all from me on this game-by-game. Join Jacob Steinberg on the live blog which is providing updates all day...
Remember that Novak did actually lose his first service game, but from thereon in he was rarely troubled
Djokovic:
It’s his [Nieminen’s] last Wimbledon so I congratulated him on a great career. One of the nicest guys off court.
I thought I did well through the three sets. I managed to regroup, play some good tennis and get control from my side. It’s good to spend a little bit less time [playing] than could be possible.
Nieminen gets a good reception from the crowd as he leaves court, remember this is his last Wimbledon. Fare thee well, Jarkko...
Game, set, match Djokovic
He wins comfortably 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 and Centre Court rises
Updated
3rd set: Djokovic* 6-3 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic leads 6-4, 6-2
A deft drop shot sets Djokovic on his way to serve out the match in style. It’s a comfortable hold and he wins the first of three match points as Nieminen sprays wide with a forehand!
3rd set: Djokovic 5-3 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic leads 6-4, 6-2
Well done Jarkko, he holds to 15 and hasn’t given up hope.
3rd set: Djokovic* 5-2 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic leads 6-4, 6-2
Comfortably hold and Nieminen is now serving to stay in the match...
3rd set: Djokovic 4-2 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic leads 6-4, 6-2
Brilliant rally but Djokovic breaks! That’s the key moment in this third set, after a captivating duel from the baseline. Nieminen had conceded three break points but he fought back to 40-30 before going long with a backhand on the run. This will soon be over, I’d wager...
3rd set: Djokovic* 3-2 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic leads 6-4, 6-2
Suddenly Nieminen steps it up on his opponent’s serve. This is better from the Finn and he forces Djokovic to deuce. A whiff of a break but it’s snuffed out all too soon, Nieminen going long with a backhand.
3rd set: Djokovic 2-2 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic leads 6-4, 6-2
Another break point for Djokovic but Nieminen responds with a fierce ace down the centre of the court. Another fine serve on deuce, this time out wide, earns him game point but Djokovic advances to the net and forces the error this time. Next point he gives the Finn the runaround, and Nieminen points to the sky in frustration with his racket. This is a decisive moment in the third set as he looks to hang in the game, and he does! Djokovic nets and it remains on serve...
3rd set: Djokovic* 2-1 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic leads 6-4, 6-2
You get the sense that the crowd on Centre are trying to will Nieminen on to a break here, but I just can’t see it coming. He wins a point by scrapping and wrong-footing Djokovic with a forehand winner, but he was never really in that game and the Serb holds to 15
Updated
3rd set: Djokovic 1-1 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic leads 6-4, 6-2
That’s more like it from Nieminen, who releases a yelp of joy after holding the game with a brilliant backhand that just dipped in over the net. He needed that and is digging deep with every point.
3rd set: Djokovic* 1-0 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic leads 6-4, 6-2
Comfortable hold for Djokovic in the first game of the third set...
Will be spectacularly long odds for a Nieminen comeback here. This could well be his last ever set at Wimbledon...
Djokovic takes the second set
He leads 6-4, 6-2
Updated
2nd set: Djokovic 6-2 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic won the first set 6-4
Djokovic takes the second set 6-42 Another break of serve and Nieminen is really struggling out there now. The Finn concedes three set points but does well to claw two back, before Djokovic creeps to the net on the third and does enough with a drop volley, Nieminen reaching it but pulling the desperate lunge wide.
2nd set: Djokovic* 5-2 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic won the first set 6-4
A bit casual from Djokovic who attempts a back-flick overhead when 30-0 up. It drifts wide and Nieminen is given a lifeline in this game, but his next return is weak and Djokovic thumps a winner down. An ace follows, and the set is within touching distance for the Serb...
Updated
2nd set: Djokovic 4-2 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic won the first set 6-4
Nieminen holds comfortably. You get the impression that Djokovic is saving his energy and looking to just serve this set out...
2nd set: Djokovic* 4-1 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic won the first set 6-4
Nieminen is desperately probing for a chink in Djokovic’s armour but, although the reigning champion is not at his imperious best, he has never looked like dropping a service game since the first of the match. Even at deuce here, Nieminen was never really in the rally. He slams an attempted backhand winner down the line but it just drifts wide and the Serb holds.
2nd set: Djokovic 3-1 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic won the first set 6-4
Djokovic breaks again! He’s playing some sumptuous tennis now and Nieminen has no answer for his deep and brutal returning. Those early games in the opening set seem so far away now. Credit to the Finn, though, who did save three break points and fought back to deuce, but Nieminen nets under pressure at the fourth attempt.
2nd set: Djokovic* 2-1 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic won the first set 6-4
Bish, bash, bosh. Djokovic holds his serve to love. Just too good
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2nd set: Djokovic 1-1 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic won the first set 6-4
That’s more like it from Nieminen. Some impressive serving from the Finn and, although Djokovic wins two points, he closes it out by coming to the net at 40-30 up and firing a backhand volley into an empty court. Centre is now drenched in sun and the temperature is sure to increase.
Updated
2nd set: Djokovic* 1-0 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server) Djokovic won the first set 6-4
Djokovic holds the opening game of the second set to 15. He’s in his stride now and it’s difficult to see a way back into this for Nieminen. It’s a bit too early to write him off, given that we don’t yet have a break in this set, but he needs a few comfortable service games to get the confidence flowing as it was early on.
Djokovic wins the first set 6-4
After losing the opening game of the match, Nieminen concedes a set point on serve and Djokovic capitalises. 1-0
1st set: Djokovic 6-4 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server)
Djokovic takes the first set with a decisive break!
1st set: Djokovic* 5-4 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server)
Djokovic’s service games are becoming a bit too easy now. He wallops a backhand crosscourt to take a 5-4 lead, Nieminen winning just one point from that game. Boris stands up in the coach’s box, and cameras immediately pan to the German. But he’s just stretching his legs I reckon!
1st set: Djokovic 4-4 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server)
Well done Jarkko. That was a pressure game and he went 0-15 down after a forehand hit the net cord and dropped wide. From thereon in, though, he stepped it up, smashing some excellent serves wide and down the centre of the court to with the game comfortably.
1st set: Djokovic* 4-3 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server)
The Djokovic serve is building nicely after that early wobble. Another simple game for the Serb who wrong-foots Nieminen with a fierce forehand crosscourt to go 40-0 up. The Finn is trying to hang in the rallies but he can only loop a defensive backhand sky high, and Djokovic lets it bounce before smashing a winner.
1st set: Djokovic 3-3 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server)
You sensed it was coming beforehand, and Djokovic duly breaks back. Nieminen concedes three break points, he seemed to be tense before the game had even begun, and his opponent takes the first. Nieminen goes long with a backhand and it’s all square again.
Updated
1st set: Djokovic* 2-3 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server)
Djokovic is in real danger of losing this first set, which would be pretty astonishing. However, the Serb’s service games are now passing by with relative ease. He wins this one comfortably to 15, turning his focus now to the required break back...
1st set: Djokovic 1-3 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server)
A close game this one, and potentially pivotal in this opening set. Djokovic’s wall-like play has started, with everything Nieminen hits seemingly coming back at him with greater velocity. However, an excellent second serve from the Finn sees him survive a break point and he holds very well
1st set: Djokovic* 1-2 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server)
Djokovic holds to love to get up and running. No messing about there from the reigning champion. Let’s see if Nieminen can retain his composure...
1st set: Djokovic 0-2 Nieminen* (*denotes most recent server)
Djokovic attempts to respond after that early setback, he’s certainly not used to going behind so early on Centre Court. Fair play to Nieminen, though, who fires a remarkable forehand winner deep and wide to edge ahead in the game. Djokovic takes control at 15-40 down and takes a point with a fine half-volley at the net - we’ve already had some great rallies. The Serb then forces deuce with some consistent hitting, but Nieminen closes it out with a superb forehand volley.
Updated
1st set: Djokovic* 0-1 Nieminen (*denotes most recent server)
Impressive start from Nieminen who takes a 40-15 lead and earns to break points in the opening game. A brilliant flurry of winners sets the Finn up for an early break ... and he takes it! Wonderful backhand that clips the line from Nieminen and he leads 1-0 against the champion. What a start!
The umpire calls time...
WATCH World No.1 @DjokerNole get ready to face Jarkko Nieminen on Centre Court #Wimbledon http://t.co/sJo8ZpETqa
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2015
We’re just about ready to go here...
Djokovic has won the toss and will serve first
Djokovic will be glad to get back to the tennis after all the coach-gate furore this week. He was certainly frustrated at the questions centring around the on-court communication between himself and Boris Becker.
Here’s Kevin Mitchell’s report on his opener on Monday:
Djokovic did his level best on day one to invest his return to the scene of his triumph over Roger Federer in the 2014 final with the sort of gravitas and dignity befitting a champion. It didn’t quite work out that way.
The players emerge on court. It’s pretty overcast to be honest but obviously very warm out there. Yesterday it reached 41C courtside but you would not expect either of these experienced players to be flustered by the heat.
Updated
Good afternoon all. After Novak Djokovic’s straight sets victory over Kohlschreiber in round one, this represents a tougher test. Jarkko Nieminen is in his last championships at SW19 and will want to go out with a bang. He’s 33 but was the world No13 back in 2006 and Finland’s finest at the very least deserves a Centre Court swansong. He earned it by dispatching of Leyton Hewitt in round one – also at Wimbledon for the final time – so this should be interesting.
James will be here shortly. In the meantime, read Barney Ronay’s report on the anniversary of Tim Henman’s disqualification.
In the end Andy Murray was predictably untroubled on a scalding Centre Court transformed by the mid-afternoon glare into a suntrap of Death Valley proportions. This was an agreeably low key straight-sets first-round defeat of Mikhail Kukushkin by the No3 seed, on an afternoon when there was if anything an absence of other more familiar kinds of heat.
Murray performed well enough against an opponent who came here to play, offering in glimpses the full range of his deep defence and well-timed attack. Perhaps the most interesting part of a fairly routine 6-4, 7-6, 6-4 victory, however, was the lack of intrusion from the fringes.
The only union flags in evidence throughout were the odd flutter in the seats behind the umpire’s chair, always the last stronghold of the face-painted hardcore, an armpit of ingrained Timwittery. There were precious few gurgles and shrieks and come on Andys. Instead, this was Centre Court in its grownup guise, the mood serene and quietly appreciative, perhaps even significantly so in the cycle of Wimbledon’s modern history.
