Wimbledon: 'Flawless' Novak Djokovic cruises into third round

Novak Djokovic rated his second round performance at Wimbledon on Wednesday as "almost flawless" as the defending champion eased past South Africa's Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 on Centre Court.

In a rematch of the 2018 final, which Djokovic also won comfortably owing partly to Anderson's near seven-hour semi-final, the world No 1 took some time to find a way through his opponent's serve, but got the crucial break in the eighth game before serving out the first set.

Two breaks for four games in a row at the end of the second set put Djokovic 2-0 ahead and a another solitary break in the eighth game of the third set sealed a routine afternoon for the top seed.

"Kevin is a terrific player, very dangerous on grass courts, fast courts. Obviously a straight-set victory today but still only one break each set was enough, I held my serve really comfortably," Djokovic, 34, said.

"Once we get into the rally I have a better chance. That was one of the tactical goals - try to make the least unforced errors as possible. I knew Kevin was going to serve big and I wasn't not going to have too many chances to break his serve. I've done much better that I thought I would do.

"I believed in myself but it was almost flawless performance today. I'm just super happy to see all of you on the court."

After a slow start in the first round - Djokovic lost his first set of the tournament to British teenager Jack Draper - the five-time champion appears to have fully adjusted to the slicker surfaces of Wimbledon, even if he became the latest player to take tumbles on the court.

"I seem to have a really nice connection with the grass," he said. "I don't recall falling this much in the first two rounds of Wimbledon. I have a good connection with the crowd and the grass."

Following Djokovic on Centre Court, women's second seed Aryna Sabalenka edged past local hope Katie Boulter in a thrilling contest 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Boulter, the world No 219, was willed on by the crowd and took advantage of Sabalenka's early nerves to take a shock one-set lead. However, the Belarusian soon found her range to level the match after a second set that comprised just one break.

A tense deciding set then ensued as both players exchanged breaks in the third and fourth games before Sabalenka struck again to lead 3-2. The world No 4 maintained her advantage but needed to fend off six break points to take a 5-3 lead and clinched the win in the next game on her first match point.

"It was really tough, she is an unbelievable player, I didn't want you [the fans] to be more happy, I really wanted to win this match - it was a great atmosphere and I enjoyed it from beginning to end," Sabalenka, 23, said. "Thank you for coming here and supporting us. We really missed you, thank you so much.

"I was nervous and I am really happy I found my rhythm in the second set, but it was a really tough one."