Wimbledon 2021: More slippery and slippery as Novak Djokovic wins

Novak Djokovic slipped, slipped, slipped and stumbled in the third round after beating Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 in slick grass at Wimbledon on Wednesday.

Djokovic did not face a break point and made only six unforced errors, one with his forehand.

But footing remained an issue even on the third day of the tournament, and Djokovic spread several times, as did the player in other matches and the child of at least one ball.

“I haven’t slipped just once; I slipped like six times,” Bianca Andreescu said after losing her first-round match. “The courts are very slippery. I’ve only played here once before, but they weren’t like that at all. I talked to a few other players, and they said this is not normal. But it’s something we can’t really control.”

Seven-time champion Serena Williams on Tuesday retired from her first round match with a leg injury. Roger Federer’s rival, Adrian Mannarino, had to drop it after falling and taking a knee.

Incessant rain created a sluggish situation in the first two days of the game. The weather also caused a scheduling backlog, with 27 first-round matches being pushed to Wednesday.

The retractable roof was open when top-ranked Djokovic was on center court for the first time for his rematch against Anderson, who also lost when he played in the 2018 final.

While Djokovic endured an up-and-down performance on the slippery surface and grumbled in despair, rising from a spill, he had little trouble with Anderson. Ex-naturally Ang Djokovic extended a rally by hitting a forehand on his knee – and won the point.

Djokovic wants his sixth and third consecutive Wimbledon title. By winning the championship, he will also equal the record for a total of 20 majors shared by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, and only need one title at the US Open to sweep all four Grand Slams in 2021.

Andreescu made an early exit from another Grand Slam when she lost 6-2, 6-1 to Alice Cornet. The Canadian won the 2019 Open, but has since been 2-5 in the Majors, including three early-round losses.

Andreescu, who has struggled with injuries but was seeded fifth, made 34 unforced errors in seven for Cornet.

“I tried to stay positive throughout the match,” Andreescu said. “I tried to figure out how I could play her better. But to be honest, she played really well.”

Yoshihito Nishioka beat 6-foot-10 John Isner 7-6(5), 2-6, 6-3, 6-7(7), 6-4, overcoming a height difference of 15 inches. The match took place on Court 18, where Isner won a record fifth set 70–68 in 2010.

Also leading was Queen’s Club tournament champion Matteo Berrettini, who hit 20 aces and went past Guido Pella 6–4, 3–6, 6–4, 6–0. American Sam Querrey defeated No. 11 Pablo Carreo Busta 7-6 (6), 6-4, 7-5.

Former US Open runner-up Kei Nishikori defeated Alexei Popirin 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to win his 100th Grand Slam match. Number 10 Denis Shapovalov went into the third round when Pablo Andujar withdrew with a rib injury.

In the other women’s game, French Open runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova defeated Anna Bogdan 6–2, 6–2.