• Wimbledo, Day Three

Djokovic holds off Harrison to reach third round

ESPN staff
June 27, 2012
Novak Djokovic will meet either Benjamin Becker or Radek Stepanek in the third round © PA Photos
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Novak Djokovic kept the defence of his Wimbledon title firmly on track as he fended off a determined Ryan Harrison to reach the third round.

The world No. 1 claimed a single break of serve in each set to secure a 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory under the roof on Centre Court.

Harrison, 20, was playing in the second round of a grand slam for only the third time, but he showed no signs of being overwhelmed as he made Djokovic work for his victory in a thrilling encounter.

In a match of few unforced errors, it was a wayward forehand from the American which gifted Djokovic the chance to break in the opening set, and the Serb made no mistake as he crunched a forehand before holding to love for a 4-2 lead.

Chances against Djokovic are invariably few and far between and Harrison, ranked No. 90 in the world, was left to rue his inability to convert a number of opportunities against the Serb midway through the second set. In what proved to be a decisive game, Djokovic saved all six break points, and in typical Djokovic fashion struck the killer blow by breaking Harrison immediately.

But Harrison refused to lie down, and he continued to make Djokovic work for every point. A brief loss of focus saw the American 0-40 down on serve, and a superb reflex volley saw Djokovic grab the third and critical break and the chance to serve for the match, the top seed making no mistake as he wrapped up the win inside two hours.

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