12:01 PM
Novak Djokovic gets loose this morning
11:44 AM
Good afternoon
And welcome to live coverage of the second round match, a re-run of the 2018 final between the No1 seed and five-times champion Novak Djokovic and the South African 35-year-old trebuchet Kevin Anderson. Djokovic, overwhelming favourite for a sixth title which would take him past Bjorn Borg and to one behind Pete Sampras and two behind Roger Federer, came back from a set down in his opening match on Monday against Jack Draper to win 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in two hours. Anderson, who also needed four sets to get past Marcelo Barrios Vera 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6, is confident he can overturn the 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 thrashing of the 2018 final because, for one thing, he did not have to endure a 6hr 36min semi-final to get here this time.
Anderson knows he must produce his best tennis to compete with Djokovic, who is unbeaten at the All England Club since the 2017 quarter-finals. “Of course, in the big moments and on the centre courts, he’s been there so many times. He has a lot of confidence and comfort in those situations,” Anderson said.
“And of course he’s a fighter. I’ve played some matches with him where it’s been really close and he is not giving anything [away]. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m definitely looking forward to the challenge.”
Former world No5 Anderson has seen his ranking slip to 102 after struggling with injuries over the past couple of years, including two knee surgeries between September 2019 and February 2020.
Having failed to make an impact in the grasscourt warm-up events in Nottingham and Eastbourne, Anderson was relieved to find some rhythm in his opening round four-set victory at Wimbledon over Chilean youngster Barrios Vera.
Although Djokovic has lost only three of his 31 matches this season, the big-serving right-handed South African will walk out on Centre Court with renewed confidence.
“I think at the end of the day, [it’s about] approaching it like another tennis match. Just focusing on what you can do, what you can control,” Anderson said.