Djokovic tosses Pavlasek out of tourney

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Novak Djokovic shrugged off sweltering 30-degree heat to breeze past outclassed Adam Pavlasek 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 and reach the Wimbledon third round yesterday.

The three-time champion brushed aside the 136rd-ranked Czech on Court One to make the last-32 for the ninth year in succession.

Djokovic, the second seed, whose shock third round loss to Sam Querrey at Wimbledon 12 months ago precipitated a worrying decline in form, will next face either Juan Martin del Potro or Ernests Gulbis.

“It was a very warm day, it wasn’t easy to play point after point and some long rallies,” said Djokovic as his comfortable Wimbledon continued following a first round in which opponent Martin Klizan had retired hurt after just 40 minutes.

“But overall, from the very beginning I managed to impose my own rhythm and play the game I intended to play.

Bernard Tomic may have been knocked out but the Australian was still making waves when he was fined after claiming he was “bored” during his lacklustre defeat to Mischa Zverev.

Tomic, who was accused of “unsportsmanlike behaviour” had also admitted he called for the trainer even though he was not injured to try to disrupt his opponent’s momentum.

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev was slapped with a $14,500 (Sh1.5m) fine after a series of disputes with umpire Mariana Alves during his five-set loss to Ruben Bemelmans in the second round.

Medvedev ended the match by throwing coins in the direction of umpire’s chair although he insisted the bizarre gesture was not meant to imply that the official was corrupt.

Meanwhile, Spain’s David Ferrer was on court only briefly yesterday as Wimbledon second round opponent Steve Darcis retired injured.

Ferrer, twice a quarter-finalist at the grasscourt slam, was leading 3-0 when Belgium’s Darcis cried off with a back injury.

Darcis, who once beat Rafa Nadal at Wimbledon, is the eighth player to retire in the men’s singles at this year’s championships.

Unseeded Ferrer will play either Tomas Berdych or Ryan Harrison.