• Wimbledon

Djokovic safely through against Mayer

Novak Djokovic's was too stong for Florian Mayer © PA Photos

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Wimbledon 2013

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Following Serena Williams' brutally efficient dismissal of Mandy Minella, the Centre Court crowd on day two were treated to another powerful performance from a world No. 1 as Novak Djokovic cruised past Florian Mayer 6-3 7-5 6-4.

German Mayer was a delight to watch, with his finesse, guile and Becker-like antics as he threw himself around the grass. But Djokovic was in no mood to pander to the audience, instead choosing to dispose of his opponent in the most efficient way possible.

And it didn't take long to get up and running, Djokovic broke Mayer's opening service game courtesy of a series of ruthless forehands. But, like Williams, Djokovic took his foot off the gas slightly in the second set and was put under some pressure on several occasions.

But the elusive break would not come for Mayer and it was Djokovic who made the breakthrough in the second set. At 5-5, Mayer flopped a clumsy backhand into the net to give Djokovic break point. He then executed a delicious lob over Mayer to take the opportunity and made no mistake in serving out for a 2-0 lead.

With the Mayer challenge effectively over, Djokovic was in cruise control for the third set and, with his rival's challenge clearly a spent force, the Serb eased into round two without really reaching third gear.

David Ferrer was made to work for his second round place by Martin Alund © PA Photos

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David Ferrer followed Djokovic on Centre Court and at one point looked like another big Spanish upset might have been in the offing, but the fourth seed rallied to see off Martin Alund 6-1 4-6 7-5 6-2. Ferrer will face compatriot Roberto Bautista Agut after he beat Russian Teymuraz Gabashvili in straight sets.

Elsewhere, Feliciano Lopez beat Gilles Simon for the second time in three days having dispatched the Frenchman in the final at Eastbourne. This time, Lopez ran out a 6-2 6-4 7-6 (13-11) winner. Tommy Haas edged Russia's Dmitry Tursunov in straight sets 6-3 7-5 7-5, and the No. 13 seed will face Jimmy Wang, who was taken to five by Wayne Odesnik.

World No. 8 Juan Martin Del Potro beat Spain's Albert Ramos, but he will not face fellow Argentine Guido Pella, who also retired in the fifth having come back from two sets down against Canadian Jesse Levine.

Grigor Dimitrov, the 29th seed, made light work of Italian Simone Bolelli 6-1 6-4 6-3, and seventh seed Tomas Berdych is safely through 6-3 6-4 6-4 against Martin Klizan.

Nineteenth seed Gilles Simon was ousted in straight sets by Spain's Feliciano Lopez, losing 6-2 6-4 7-6(11).

American James Blake crushed Holland's Thiemo De Bakker 6-1 6-3 6-2 to set up a second round match with Bernard Tomic, who beat 21st seed Sam Querrey in five sets, while Japan's Go Soeda claimed the scalp of Austrian Andreas Haider-Maurer. 27th seed Kevin Anderson will face Michal Przysiezny, who beat Olivier Rochus and Philipp Petzschner respectively.

Jeremy Chardy needed four sets to see off America's Ryan Harrison, and the French 28th seed will meet German Jan Lennard-Struff, who eased past Blaz Kavcic.

Meanwhile, 16th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber was forced to retire in the fifth set against Ivan Dodig - the German citing flu as his reasons for withdrawing. Dodig faces Denis Kudla next after the American beat a resilient James Duckworth 6-4 6-2 3-6 4-6 6-1.

Japanese 12th seed Kei Nishikora saw off Australian Matt Ebden to set up a second round tie with Argentine Leo Mayer, who beat Aljaz Bedene in straight sets. 23rd seed Andreas Seppi is through, but needed five sets to get past Denis Istomin for a place in the next stage, where he will face Michael Llodra, conqueror in straight sets over 2006 quarter finalist Jarkko Nieminen.

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