Down a break at 3-1 in the first set, defending champion Novak Djokovic reasserted his dominance on a sweltering day at Wimbledon.
Running off 13 points in a row, Djokovic seized command and stayed in front the rest of the way on Centre Court as he beat Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday to reach the third round of Wimbledon on one of the hottest days ever at the All England Club.
Nieminen started fast, breaking serve in the opening game and going up 3-1. But the top-ranked Djokovic won the next three games, including two at love, and never let Nieminen back into the match.
“At the beginning of the match, he came out firing some incredible shots,” Djokovic said. “He made I think four winners in the first game, four or five in the second game. He was a break up but I managed to regroup, play some good tennis and get the control on my side.”
It was the final match at Wimbledon for the 33-year-old Nieminen, who announced earlier this month that he will be retiring at the end of the year.
Djokovic gave Nieminen a warm embrace at the net and joined the Centre Crowd in applauding for the Finn as they walked off the court..
The men’s field lost one of its top players Wednesday when fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori who could have faced Djokovic in the quarterfinals withdrew before his scheduled Centre Court meeting with Santiago Giraldo of Colombia.
Nishikori was forced out by an injury to his left calf, which he sustained in the grasscourt tournament in Halle, Germany, two weeks ago. He aggravated the “small tear” during a five-set victory over Simone Bolelli on Monday.
“It was hurting just walking and running, so I decide not to play today,” he said.
One of the rising stars in men’s tennis knocked out one of the game’s veterans.
Seventh-seeded Milos Raonic served 29 aces and held off Germany’s Tommy Haas 6-0, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4). The 24-year-old Canadian, who reached the semifinals last year, saved all three break points against him.
In women’s play, 2004 champion and fourth-seeded Maria Sharapova advanced by beating Dutch qualifier Richel Hogenkamp 6-3, 6-1 on Court 2. The Russian had eight double-faults but also 23 winners.
Coco Vandeweghe of the United States made it to the third round for the first time, upsetting 11-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 6-4. Vandeweghe will next face 22-seeded Sam Stosur, the 2011 U.S. Open champion.
Another American, No. 21 Madison Keys, downed Stefanie Voegele of Switzerland 6-7 (6), 6-3, 6-4.
