Djokovic produces mini highlights reel as he romps past Tsitsipas

Novak Djokovic ensured that his quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title would not be derailed by a player once predicted to be the leader of a new generation.

Despite admitting to having the “luxury of picking and choosing” where he wants to play, Djokovic was not short of quality as he dispatched Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in an hour and 38 minutes.

The match was one long highlights reel. It was almost impossible to keep track of the thrilling points that sent Tsitsipas racing to the net or back to the baseline as Djokovic found a perfectly-timed lob or passing shot.

Although he celebrated his 39th birthday last month, Djokovic was so at ease on Centre Court that he took time between sets to ask a young girl working for the tournament to bring him a pair of scissors to cut a piece of kinesiology tape on his shoulder, before pretending she cut him.

There was one rally in particular that was met with a standing ovation on Centre Court, when Tsitsipas hit two smashes in succession that Djokovic found a way to return, hitting a ball that just landed on the baseline and then going on to win the point.

In every set, Djokovic raised his level exactly when he needed to get the breaks of serve.

You would not have to roll back too many years for Djokovic taking on Tsitsipas to be a final rather than the second round, but the Greek was in the headlines more recently for his break-up with fellow tennis player Paolo Badosa, who claimed she “suffered for a year” and called the environment “toxic”.

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Third-round opponent

Things get interesting from here on out as the seeds begin to meet.

Djokovic will play Frenchman and 25th seed Arthur Rinderknech in the next round.

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Djokovic wins 6-3, 6-4, 6-2

Djokovic, serving for the match, gets on the board first before hitting a double fault. The Serbian then nets a backhand from the baseline to give Tsitsipas a look at 15-30. An error from the Serbian sees the score move to 15-40. Djokovic saves the first break point and the second as Tsitsipas goes long with a backhand. 

Djokovic brings up his first match point with a serve out wide returned into the net by Tsitsipas. The Greek then goes long with a forehand from the baseline. Game, set and match: Djokovic!

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Djokovic having fun on Centre

There’s a reason they call him the Djoker 😂#Wimbledon | @DjokerNolepic.twitter.com/zLRy1yttve

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2026

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*Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-6, 2-5 Djokovic

Djokovic, toying with Tsitsipas, sees the Greek go long from the baseline to move 0-15 ahead. After some nice court craft, Djokovic puts away a short backhand down the line before crushing a return to bring up three break points. Tsitsipas saves the first with a strong first serve before Djokovic lobs the Greek to close out the game in style.

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Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-6, 2-4 Djokovic*

Djokovic, looking to consolidate the break, starts off with an ace. Tsitsipas then goes long with a forehand retrurn to fall 30-0 behind. Another long exchange from the baseline sees Djokovic dominate and go 40-0 up before eventually closing out the game to love. Solid hold as expected.

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*Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-6, 2-3 Djokovic

A brilliant return from Djokovic lands at the feet of Tsitsipas who goes long on the resulting forehand. Djokovic then sneaks ahead 15-30 before appearing to lose his footing as Tsitsipas went long with a forehand. Two break points for the Serbian, who takes it at the first opportunity. Great return game from the seventh seed.

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Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-6, 2-2 Djokovic*

Djokovic opens the game with a backhand winner down the line. The Serbian then hits one from the forehand wing to move the score to 30-0. A big serve gets him to 40-0 before Tsitsipas comes out on top after an extended rally. Djokovic eventually holds to 15.

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*Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-6, 2-1 Djokovic

Djokovic, looking to pile on some early pressure, sees Tsitsipas make two errors to move 0-30 ahead. Tsitsipas then comes up with a timely ace and then sees Djokovic go wide with an attempted forehand pass. 30-30. The Greek then passes Djokovic who falls to the deck attempting a backhand volley. Tsitsipas secures the game. Good hold in the end.

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Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-6, 1-1 Djokovic*

A forehand winner sees Djokovic get on the board first. The Serbian then reels off two points in quick succession before closing out the game with an ace.

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Third set: *Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-6, 1-0 Djokovic

Tsitsipas is made to play two extra balls before eventually going 15-0 up. The Greek then delivers two huge first serves to move 40-0 ahead before seeing a forehand down the line land in the tramlines. Djokovic gets to 30-40 but Tsitsipas sees it out to register the first game in this third set.

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Djokovic wins the second set 6-4

Djokovic, serving for the second set, does so in ruthless fashion, holding to love. 

Tsitsipas did not do wrong in that second set, but the 24-time grand slam champion broke a crucial time and did not look back after that.

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Crowd enjoying the spectacle

The crowd are well and truly up for this contest. That last long rally certainly had people on their feet as Tsitsipas went for two smashes, to the baseline and then eventually back to the net.

This is thrilling even if Djokovic is coming out on top more often than not.

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*Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-5 Djokovic

Tsitsipas begins the game with an ace before an error from the Greek moves the score to 15-15. Djokovic the nets a backhand approach. 30-15. A Tsitsipas error gives Djokovic a look at 30-30. 

Tsitsipas throws down a 13th ace to move to 40-30 but then shanks a forehand, Djokovic gets to deuce. A good serve out wide is returned long by Djokovic. Advantage Tsitsipas. Djokovic hits a forehand return winner to go back to deuce. A forehand error from Tsitsipas gives Djokovic advantage.

Some increble scrambling from Djokovic earns the Serbian the first break of this second set.

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Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-4 Djokovic*

Djokovic races to a 30-0 lead, slipping as he played a backhand volley. An ace then brings up three game points and another closes seals it to bring the score to 4-4 in this second set.

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*Tsitsipas 3-6, 4-3 Djokovic

Djokovic wins the opening point before Tsitsipas throws down another huge serve that leaves Djokovic stretching on the return.

More good serving gets Tsitsipas to 40-15 and the Greek closes out the game with an ace. 

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Tsitsipas 3-6, 3-3 Djokovic*

Tsitsipas registers the first point on Djokovic’s serve before the Serbian quickly restores order. A delicate backhand volley then gets Djokovic to 30-15. Tsitsipas rifles a backhand return down line that goes long. And Djokovic closes out the game with a magnificent lob.

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*Tsitsipas 3-6, 3-2 Djokovic

Tsitsipas, looking more settled, goes 30-0 up before throwing down an ace to bring up three game points. The Greek holds to love after Djokovic goes long from the baseline.

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Tsitsipas 3-6, 2-2 Djokovic*

Djokovic races to a 30-0 lead before extending to 40-0 following a short Tsitsipas return leads to an easy putaway. The Serbian closes out to love.

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*Tsitsipas 3-6, 2-1 Djokovic

Tsitsipas starts the game with an ace and throws down a 130mph first serve to move to 30-0 ahead. A good serve plus-one play gets the Greek to 40-0 before he nets a backhand for 40-15. Not to worry, an ace wraps up the game for the Greek.

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Tsitsipas 3-6, 1-1 Djokovic*

Superb forehand winner on the run from Tsitsipas brings the crowd to their feet and gets a nod of approval from Djokovic as the Greek moves 0-30 ahead. Djokovic gets himself out of trouble with some good serving and brings up game point with an ace and closes with another.

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Second set: *Tsitsipas 3-6, 1-0 Djokovic

After a solid start, Tsitsipas hits two wild errors from nowhere to give Djokovic a look at 30-30. The Greek then closes out the game with some strong serving, to hold to 30.

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Djokovic wins the first set 6-3

Djokovic races to 30-0 lead before Tsitsipas hits a stunning return winner on the stretch. Djokovic gets to 40-15 after a strong first delivery and closes out the game and the set in style with a backhand winner down the line. 

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*Tsitsipas 3-5 Djokovic

Tsitsipas holds to 15 and it is now over to Djokovic to serve out this first set.

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Ben Stiller is here

Good evening, Ben Stiller 👋#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/0R6XLyCXqN

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 1, 2026

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Tsitsipas 2-5 Djokovic*

Djokovic throws in a love-hold of his own to close to within a game of this first set.

Tsitsipas will serve to stay in it after the sitdown.

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*Tsitsipas 2-4 Djokovic

Tsitsipas stops the rot with a quick love-hold. The Greek still has work to do if he is to come back in this first set.

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Tsitsipas 1-4 Djokovic*

Djokovic falls 0-30 behind and then 0-40 after Tsitsipas gets the better of the Serbian after an extended rally. Djokovic saves the first as Tsitsipas goes long with a return. 

A good T-serve then gets Djokovic to 30-40. One more break point for the Greek. Djokovic bides his time and comes out on top after a 23-shot rally. Deuce.

A superb serve-plus-one gets Djokovic to advantage. And then an ace seals the game. Brilliant hold from 0-40 down.

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*Tsitsipas 1-3 Djokovic

Tsitsipas sprays a backhand wide to 0-15 behind. A good T-serve catches Djokovic off guard. 15-15. Tsitsipas then sprays another groundstroke on the backhand wing to fall 15-30 behind. Another error from that wing gives Djokovic two break points.

Djokovic breaks thanks to another backhand error from Tsitsipas.

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Tsitsipas 1-2 Djokovic*

Some good serving gets Djokovic to 30-0. The Serb then fires down two aces in a row to close out. Very good serving from the Serbian early on.

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*Tsitsipas 1-1 Djokovic

Djokovic makes a good start before Tsitsipas steadies the ship and reels off three points in a row before sealing the game with an ace.

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First set: Stefanos Tsitsipas 0-1 Novak Djokovic*

Tsitsipas registers the first point before Djokovic wins the next two in quick succession to move 30-15 ahead. An ace down the middle brings the Serbian to 40-15 and he closes out comfortably.

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Players are on court

Djokovic won the toss and has elected to serve.

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One-sided head-to-head

Good evening and welcome to second-round Wimbledon coverage of Novak Djokovic versus Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Djokovic, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, beat Wu Yibing in four sets in his opening-round match on Monday. The seventh seed looked comfortable on Centre Court, even after dropping the second set, wrapping up the match that started with the roof open before closing after the second set – 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

Afterwards Djokovic said: “It felt like we played two different matches, with the roof on and closed. It affects the conditions. It becomes more slippery. You try to adapt, but it is not easy. He put me under a lot of pressure.”

Tsitsipas got through his first-round match in even easier fashion, beating France’s Hugo Gaston in straight sets – 6-1, 6-4, 6-2. The former world No 3 confirmed before the tournament began that he had stopped working with his father Apostolos who was his long-time coach.

“It will take him some time to accept it, as it did the last time we split,” said Tsitsipas. “Back then I left a small window open. Now I believe he has a great deal to offer others – but to me, I think he’s already given everything he possibly could.” Thomas Perrin is now down as the 27-year-old’s only coach.

Djokovic and Tsitsipas have met 14 times on the ATP Tour, with Djokovic leading the head-to-head 12-2. Their last meeting was two years ago in the quarter-finals at the Paris Olympics. Djokovic won in straight sets en route to winning gold in 2024. The Serb won their last 10 meetings before that, with Tsitspas’s last victory against Djokovic coming all the way back in 2019.

The pair have never played each other on grass.