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French Open finalists Djokovic, Tsitsipas endure differing Wimbledon fortunes

French Open finalists Djokovic, Tsitsipas endure differing Wimbledon fortunes
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There were differing fortunes for the pair on the opening day at SW19.

French Open finalists Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas endured differing fortunes on the opening day of Wimbledon.

The pair were playing their first match since Djokovic came from two sets down to win in Paris 15 days ago and the Serbian overcame a tricky start to make it through to the second round.

The defending champion opened play on Centre Court against British debutant Jack Draper and was stunned to drop the opening set.

However, he quickly recovered to win 4-6 6-1 6-1 6-2 and said: "I thought he was playing well. He was fighting. Obviously for him, a unique occasion playing for the first time on Wimbledon Centre Court. He has done well.

"But anyway, (it) was a very good performance. I'm pleased with the second, third and fourth sets, the way I played from the back of the court. I started returning better, as well, midway (through the) second set."

Tsitsipas, however, crashed out with a straight-sets defeat to world number 57 Frances Tiafoe.

The American was far too good in a 6-4 6-3 6-4 win, with Tsitsipas saying afterwards he was not fully motivated.

He said: "There have been times that I was much more motivated than this. But that's no reason for me not to play well.

"The conditions are the same for each single player. The bubble makes it really tiring week by week.

"It's certainly very difficult when you know mentally you're going to go from one bubble, being in that bubble two-and-a-half weeks, maybe even more than that, like close to a month, to be honest.

"Just like two weeks later you still have to undergo the same procedure and the same thing again.

"It's just not easy. It's a challenge on its own already. But I don't want to put emphasis to that too much. We had a match today, (I) had my opportunities.

"My opponent played much better, significantly better, than me. There wasn't the drive that I was hoping for. There wasn't that same fighting spirit that I usually put out on the court."

Andrey Rublev made it through to the second round
Andrey Rublev made it through to the second round (AELTC Pool/PA)

Fifth seed Andrey Rublev equalled his best run at SW19 with a four-set victory over Federico Delbonis.

The Russian lost the first set but came back to win 4-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 and make it through to the second round.

Kevin Anderson has tumbled down the rankings since making it to the 2018 final but Wimbledon always brings the best out of him and he got off to a winning start against Chilean Marcelo Tomas Barrios Vera.

He also went a set down but recovered to progress with a 6-7 (4) 6-4 6-4 7-6 (4) victory.

2019 semi-finalist Roberta Bautista Agut beat Australian John Millman 6-3 3-6 6-3 7-6 (4), but rising star and 19th seed Jannick Sinner went out, losing 5-7 6-3 7-5 6-3 to Marton Fucsovics.

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Novak Djokovic reacts during his first round Wimbledon match against Jack Draper on June 28, 2021
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Today's Olympic highlights header

Saturday's key events


TRIATHLON
· After silvers in both the men's and women's events, Team GB will be fancied to get on the podium again in the mixed relay (11.30pm-1am)

SWIMMING
· Touted as Michael Phelps's successor, Caeleb Dressel already has two gold medals from these Games and he will be going for a third in the men's 50m butterfly final (2.30am)
· It is Katie Ledecky vs. Ariarne Titmus III in the women's 800m freestyle final, with Ledecky entering as firm favourite (2.46am)
· Great Britain will be heavily fancied to add another gold medal to their swimming haul, having produced by far the fastest qualifying time for the mixed 4x100m medley relay final (3.43am)

ATHLETICS
· Dina Asher-Smith is one of three British women in the 100m semi-finals (3.01am-3.20am), and will hope to challenge for a medal in what is likely to be a star-studded final (1.50pm)
· The inaugural Olympic 4x400m mixed relay event concludes with Great Britain one of the eight finalists going for gold (1.35pm)

RUGBY SEVENS
· Team GB's dreams of an unlikely gold are still alive in the women's event as they face France in their semi-final (3.30am). The winners will face either New Zealand or Fiji in the gold medal match later in the day (10am)

SAILING
· Gold medals are up for grabs in the windsurfer - RS:X finals. Emma Wilson participates for Team GB in the women's final (6.33am), while Tom Squires is in action in the men's (7.33am)

TENNIS
· Following his shock semi-final defeat, ending his hopes of a Golden Slam in 2021, Novak Djokovic battles for bronze against Pablo Carreno Busta (7am)
· The women's singles event reaches its conclusion with the gold medal match between Belinda Bencic and Marketa Vondrousova

> Today's schedule in full
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