Novak eases into Round Three

London, July 1

A strangely lethargic Novak Djokovic outclassed Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 6-4 6-2 6-3 to move safely into the Wimbledon third round.

The world No. 1 and top seed dropped serve in the opening game of the match and appeared distracted in a performance littered with loose serves and uncharacteristic errors. Serb Djokovic was still far too good for 33-year-old world No. 92 Nieminen who was playing in his final Wimbledon.

The defending champion broke in the sixth game of the third set and completed victory when Nieminen sent a forehand wide. Djokovic will play Australian Bernard Tomic, the 27th seed, in the last 32.

Nishikori pulls out

Kei Nishikori’s campaign ended abruptly on Wednesday when the Japanese fifth seed was forced to pull out with a troublesome calf injury. Monday’s three and a half hour battle against Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) proved to be his undoing.

Ranoic fires 28 aces

Milos Raonic almost matched the Wimbledon serving speed record against German veteran Tommy Haas as the Canadian powerhouse moved into the third round. Seventh seed Raonic boomed down one delivery at 145mph, just short of the 148mph missile American Taylor Dent produced five years ago. Despite his ferocious game he was still dragged into a fourth set by the injury-plagued 37-year-old former world No. 2 who on Monday became the oldest man to win a Wimbledon singles match since Jimmy Connors in 1991. Haas was completely overpowered for two sets but hit back before Raonic, who creamed down 28 aces, prevailed 6-0 6-2 6-7(5) 7-6(4).

Sharapova turns up heat

Meanwhile, fourth-seeded Maria Sharapova beat Dutch qualifier Richel Hogenkamp 6-3, 6-1 on Court No. 2. CoCo Vandeweghe eliminated 11th-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the second round.

Ball boy collapses but no sweat for Royals

A ball boy collapsed and fans took cover as Wimbledon sweltered today on the hottest day ever recorded at the championships. Britain's Met Office national weather service said a temperature of 35.7 degrees Celsius (96.3 degrees Fahrenheit) was recorded at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew — its nearest station to the All England Club. That topped the previous record of 34.6C (94.3F) set nearly four decades ago in 1976. Caroline Wozniacki handed out iced coffee to sun-baked spectators queueing to get in the grounds. The Centre Court sliding roof was edged out just enough to keep the royal box in the shade, where All England Club president Prince Edward, the Duke of Kent, was joined by dignitaries.

Silence for Tunisia victims

The start of play will be delayed on Friday to observe Britain’s national minute’s silence for the victims of last week’s Tunisian beach massacre. — Agencies

Paes advances, Raja ousted  

The Indo-Canadian tennis pair of Leander Paes and Daniel Nestor won their men’s doubles opener comfortably to ease into the second round with a straight sets victory. The 11th seeds needed only an hour and 43 minutes to beat Serbian pair of Dusan Lajovic and Viktor Troicki 6-3, 6-4, 7-5 on Court 6. However, it was the end of the road for Indo-French pair of Purav Raja and Fabrice Martin, who lost their first round contest to British-Danish combine of Jonathan Marray and Frederik Nielsen 1-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(7) in two hours and 31 minutes on Court 10.