Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic delivered a dominant performance on Thursday to sweep aside British wildcard Dan Evans and book his place in the third round at Wimbledon, as he continues his pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
The Serbian star needed just under two hours to see off Evans 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 in a commanding display on Centre Court, which saw him strike 46 winners and barely put a foot wrong.
Djokovic, seeded sixth this year, had struggled with stomach issues during his opening round match against Alexandre Muller, which went to four sets. He credited his swift recovery to “miracle pills,” jokingly mentioning them after Thursday’s match.
Any lingering concerns were quickly dismissed as the 38-year-old looked back to his clinical best, barely giving Evans a chance to settle.
After securing his 99th career win at Wimbledon, Djokovic joked, “It just means I’ve been around a long time! But I still enjoy it. This court means so much to me—it’s a special place, and making history here is always extra meaningful.”
Djokovic remains tied with Margaret Court on 24 Grand Slam titles but is hoping to take the outright lead by lifting the trophy on his beloved grass courts, where he has already won seven titles. Victory this year would see him equal Roger Federer’s men’s record of eight Wimbledon singles crowns.
Despite back-to-back Wimbledon final losses, including last year’s defeat to Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic feels his best shot at Grand Slam glory remains at SW19.
“I know what’s at stake, and I’m thinking about what’s possible here,” he said. “But I won’t reflect on it too much now—maybe when I’m on a beach, sipping a margarita with Federer and Nadal!”
Though no longer seen as the outright favourite after recent semi-final exits, including at the French Open against Jannik Sinner, Djokovic’s form in London suggests he remains a formidable contender.
Earlier this year, he claimed his 100th ATP tour-level title in Geneva, sparking renewed speculation about retirement. However, Djokovic appears focused on rewriting the record books before hanging up his racket.
Evans, ranked 154 in the world, had defeated Djokovic once before on clay in Monte Carlo in 2021. But this time, the Briton found himself completely outclassed by a player he described as one of the greatest ever.
Djokovic praised Evans’s game but admitted he had approached the match with a clear tactical plan. “Facing a Brit at Wimbledon is never easy,” he said. “But I knew exactly how I wanted to play today, and thankfully everything clicked.”
