 |
(London Olympics Joint Press Corps) |
LONDON - Serbia's Novak Djokovic fired a warning to his Olympic rivals as the world number two crushed three-time Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick 6-2, 6-1 in the second round on Tuesday.
While Roger Federer is the gold medal favourite after his recent Wimbledon triumph, Djokovic, a bronze medallist at the 2008 Games in Beijing, also has his sights firmly set on the top prize.
On the evidence of this brutal demolition of Roddick in 54 minutes under the Centre Court roof, the 25-year-old is approaching peak form again after the disappointment of losing to Federer in the Wimbledon semi-finals.
Next up for 2011 Wimbldon champion Djokovic is a last 16 clash with Croatia's Marin Cilic or Australia's Lleyton Hewitt.
Roddick, playing in his first Olympics since Athens in 2004 after missing Beijing, hasn't been past the third round in his three Grand Slam appearances this year after struggling with a series of injuries.
But he has always flourished on Wimbledon's grass courts and Djokovic knew he would have to be at his best to avoid a premature exit.
He was on the attack from the start and landed the first blow when he broke for a 4-2 lead.
That seemed to shatter Roddick's spirit. The American's usually formidable serve was being picked apart by Djokovic and a series of masterful returns secured another break to take the set.
Djokovic had no intention of giving Roddick any breathing space and he
broke again in the second game of the second set with a sublime lob that caught the American flat-footed at the net.
When Roddick misjudged a Djokovic return to concede another break in the sixth game it was all over for the former world number one.
(AFP)
