{"id":31527,"date":"2012-06-25T14:52:36","date_gmt":"2012-06-25T14:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/novakdjokovic.com\/?p=31527"},"modified":"2012-06-27T22:30:36","modified_gmt":"2012-06-27T21:30:36","slug":"nole-makes-winning-start-at-wimbledon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/novakdjokovic.com\/en\/news\/tennis\/nole-makes-winning-start-at-wimbledon\/","title":{"rendered":"Nole makes winning start at SW19"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

2011 Wimbledon<\/a> champion Novak Djokovic opened his title defence campaign on Monday, easing past former world no.1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight sets 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, to claim his first victory at the event in 98 minutes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Traditionally, the reigning champion opened action on Centre Court at the All England Club.<\/p>\n

“It’s a very unique feeling. I think that’s the first time I experienced that in my career. The grass was untouched. It was so soft, so smooth. It was great to play in,”<\/strong> Nole said.<\/p>\n

Djokovic clinched his first round win in convincing and impressive fashion. He won 84 per cent of points on his first serve and converted 6 of 11 break point chances to improve to a 37-6 record on the season.<\/p>\n

Novak held with ease in the opening game. He found three big first deliveries to establish a good rhythm. Ferrero was first to make a break, but Nole composed himself and struck back immediately to level at 2-all.The top-seeded Serb broke for the second time to take control and closed the set 6-3 in 32 minutes.<\/p>\n

World no.1 was playing very fluently and with confidence. He soon found himself a set and a break up. Ferrero once again failed to hold serve under tremendous pressure in the ninth game, and Djokovic took the second set 6-3.<\/p>\n

The 25-year-old Belgrade native raced to a 5-0 lead in the third set. He used his second opportunity to seal the set and match 6-1 firing an ace down the T line, for his second career victory over the Spaniard in three matches.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s never easy to play against Ferrero on any surface,\u201d<\/strong> said Novak. \u201cI thought he showed his quality in the first two sets but I really found form in the third. It was very encouraging.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Match statistics<\/span>: aces (13-2), double faults (3-2), winners (34-15), unforced errors (19-16), total points won (94-63).<\/p>\n

Next up for Nole will be a second-round encounter with world no.48 Ryan Harrison. The American eliminated Yen-Hsun Lu 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Novak won their only previous meeting, in the second round of 2011 Cincinnati Masters,
\n6-2, 6-3.<\/p>\n