DJOKOVIC WINS, HEWITT’S CAREER AT WIMBLEDON COMES TO A CLOSE BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 29th June 2015

DJOKOVIC WINS, HEWITT'S CAREER AT WIMBLEDON COMES TO A CLOSE BY RICKY DIMON

Novak Djokovic of Serbia serves to Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 29 June 2015. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

Djokovic wins, Hewitt’s career at Wimbledon comes to a close

By Ricky Dimon

Novak Djokovic made routine work a tough first-round draw, as he dismissed Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on opening day at Wimbledon. The world No. 1 and defending champion dropped serve twice, but he fired 12 aces compared to just one double-fault and broke Kohlschreiber five times.

It would have been fitting for Lleyton Hewitt’s final match at Wimbledon to come on Centre Court against Djokovic. But perhaps it is almost as fitting for the Aussie’s finale to have come in five-set battle against another well-respected competitor.

Hewitt and Jarkko Nieminen, who will both retire before next year’s Championships (Hewitt at the 2016 Australian Open, Nieminen at the end of this season) slugged it out for exactly four hours. In the end it was the Finn who survived a back-and-forth thriller 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-0, 11-9.

“I was always going to leave it out there, everything I had in the tank,” Hewitt assured. “I certainly did that. On the match court today, there was a couple of times the match could have gotten away from me at certain stages and I found a way of hanging in there. In the end obviously disappointing to lose. I would have loved to have played Djokovic in the next round. But Jarkko is a tough competitor and it was never going to be easy.

Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in action against Jarkko Nieminen of Finland during their first round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 29 June 2015. EPA/ANDY RAIN

“The crowd and everything, it was fantastic. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I’ve always loved the tradition of the game. I’ve never hidden that. That’s something that I love being around. For me, it’s the home of tennis. I don’t get the same feeling walking into any other grounds in the world.”

On Monday, Wimbledon was the home of five-setters. Nine other matches–bring the total to 10–went the distance. Winners included Kei Nishikori, Alexander Zverev, Denis Kudla, Kenny De Schepper, Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Fernando Verdasco, Steve Johnson, Bernard Tomic, and Liam Broady.

Like Nieminen-Hewitt, three others went past 6-6 in the fifth. Zverev beat Teymuraz Gabashvili 9-7, Verdasco edged Martin Klizan 13-11, and Herbert got the best of Hyeon Chung 10-8.

Three men recovered from two sets to love deficits. Kudla stunned Pablo Cuevas, De Schepper overcame John-Patrick Smith, and Broady treated the British crowd to a defeat of Matosevic.

Briefs

* Goffin already improves on 2014 result, projected to climb to career-high 13th.

* Isner cruises, can make a return trip to the top 16 with one more win.

* Monaco trounces F. Mayer, gives himself a shot at top 30.

* Verdasco survives Klizan in five, likely back in top 40.

* Johnson also advances in five, expected to surge into top 50.

* Baghdatis bounces young, needs one more victory for chance at top 50.

* Ilhan upsets Janowicz, should move into top 80.

* Millman destroys Robredo, will likely reach top 100.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Jarkko Nieminen, Lleyton Hewitt, Novak Djokovic, Philipp Kohlschreiber, Ricky Dimon, Sw19, Tennis, Wimbledon Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

June 29, 2015 at 5:54 pm

-@DjokerNole WINS, @lleytonhewitt’s CAREER AT @Wimbledon COMES TO A CLOSE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/WGyCJ9uqhk #Wimbledon2015 #Djokovic
Dimonator says:

June 29, 2015 at 6:15 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@DjokerNole WINS, @lleytonhewitt’s CAREER AT @Wimbledon COMES TO A CLOSE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/WGyCJ9uqhk #Wimbledo…
tennisJoga says:

June 29, 2015 at 6:36 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@DjokerNole WINS, @lleytonhewitt’s CAREER AT @Wimbledon COMES TO A CLOSE BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/WGyCJ9uqhk #Wimbledo…