Djokovic Dominates Wawrinka in Straight Sets to Secure Third-Round Victory at Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic's highly anticipated third-round match against Stan Wawrinka turned into a dominant display by Djokovic on Centre Court. Despite a delayed start and a late push from Wawrinka, Djokovic managed to avoid the match spilling over into Saturday by defeating Wawrinka 6-3, 6-1, 7-6(5) just past 10:45 p.m. 

In his on-court interview, Djokovic praised Wawrinka's performance, considering his age and previous surgeries, and acknowledged their status as experienced players in a field dominated by younger competitors. Djokovic expressed admiration for Wawrinka and wished him the best for the rest of the season. 

Wawrinka had already expressed doubts about his chances against the second seed, and his words proved accurate. Although he fought back from 0/40 in his first service game, it was a sign of the challenges to come. Djokovic appeared focused and in control throughout the match, absorbing Wawrinka's aggressive shots without appearing troubled and consistently staying ahead in rallies, particularly in the first two sets. Wawrinka, frustrated after Djokovic earned his second service break, struggled to find a way to turn the match in his favor. 

However, Wawrinka showed his champion's spirit in the third set, raising his level of play to the delight of the crowd. He managed to win four consecutive points in the third-set tie-break, turning a 1/3 deficit into a 5/3 advantage. Despite his efforts, he couldn't force a fourth set as his first serve deserted him. 

Throughout the match, Wawrinka struggled with his first serve, landing only 42 percent of them against Djokovic, known for his exceptional returning skills. Djokovic remained composed and focused, securing the victory just under the curfew, less than 15 minutes before the deadline. 

 With this win, Djokovic extended his head-to-head record against Wawrinka to 21-6. In the next round, he will face Hubert Hurkacz, the 17th seed, who defeated Lorenzo Musetti, the 14th seed, in straight sets earlier in the day. 

Hurkacz has been in good form on the grass of London, winning all three of his matches without dropping a set. Although Djokovic holds a 5-0 advantage in their previous meetings, he had to play four sets against Hurkacz in the third round of The Championships in 2019.