Djokovic survives scare to win Wimbledon opener
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates beating South Korea's Kwon Soon-woo after their men's singles tennis match on the first day of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on June 27, 2022.
What you need to know:
- Djokovic becomes the first player, man or woman, to record 80 singles wins at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
- "Now we have got to 80, let's get to 100," said Djokovic, a 20-time Grand Slam title winner.
London
Defending champion Novak Djokovic overcame a scare to notch up his 80th Wimbledon win on Monday with a four-sets victory over Kwon Soon-woo of South Korea.
Six-time champion Djokovic triumphed 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 under the Centre Court roof.
But the top seed was made to work after falling a break down in the opening two sets against his 81st-ranked opponent -- losing the second of those.
Djokovic becomes the first player, man or woman, to record 80 singles wins at all four Grand Slam tournaments.
"Now we have got to 80, let's get to 100," said Djokovic, a 20-time Grand Slam title winner.
"I didn't play any lead-up tournaments before Wimbledon so you always feel less comfortable.
"Kwon stays close to the lines, hits clean forehands and backhands so I had to find a way to go through him.
"That meant figuring out tactically how to get control of the points."
Djokovic will face either Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis or Poland's Kamil Majchrzak for a place in the last 32.
