WATCH: Leaf blowers deployed for Centre Court surface during Novak Djokovic opener
Wimbledon fans witnessed farcical scenes on Centre Court as Novak Djokovic and opponent Pedro Cachin waited for the grass to dry in order to resume their match.
Light drizzle saw the court covered and then the roof deployed after Djokovic wrapped up the opening set 6-3 but, unlike on Court One, play did not then resume as scheduled.
Djokovic and Cachin came out to inspect the grass but the defending champion was clearly unhappy with the slipperiness of the surface and they headed back to the locker room.
Djokovic then re-emerged with a towel, which he proceeded to rub on the court to laughter from the crowd, before members of the ground staff used leaf blowers to try to dry the surface.
Play had not resumed by the time the rain stopped and the decision was taken to reopen the Centre Court roof before playing the second set.
Novak Djokovic couldn't be happier to see the blowers come out 😂
Let's get this match back on!#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/TrKePF21ur
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 3, 2023
On Monday, Novak Djokovic began his quest for an eighth Wimbledon victory and an all-time record-tying 24th Grand Slam victory.
The 36-year-old Djokovic opened play on Centre Court, which he has not lost in ten years and where he has won the last four championships at the All England Club.
Unheralded The tournament’s main draw debutant and world no 68 Cachin of Argentina plays the unintentional fall guy.
“When I enter the Centre Court, I guess it just awakens something in me and I’m able to perform at a very high level,” said Djokovic.
Djokovic, the world’s second-ranked player, has already won both the Australian Open and the French Open this year.
With his 23rd major victory in Paris, he is now just one short of Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24 major victories.
A first calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver’s tennis 1969 is also within reach for him.
For the first time since 1998, neither the injured Rafael Nadal nor the eight-time champion Roger Federer will compete at Wimbledon this year.
Additionally absent is Nick Kyrgios, last year’s runner-up, who withdrew late on Sunday due to a wrist injury.
Djokovic appears zeroed in on Grand Slam successes for the remainder of the season with the US Open picture cleared up.
“I still feel hungry for success, for more Grand Slams, more achievements in tennis,” said Djokovic.
“As long as there’s that drive, I know that I’m able to compete at the highest level.
He added: “A few days after Roland Garros, I was already thinking about preparation for grass and what needs to be done.”
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