Djokovic into Wimbledon 3rd round for 19th time

LONDON -- Novak Djokovic added different grounds to his sanction by reaching Wimbledon's 3rd circular for a 19th clip with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 triumph implicit Dan Evans connected Centre Court connected Wednesday.

It was Djokovic's 99th lucifer triumph astatine Wimbledon overall, and the 19 third-round appearances enactment him 1 up of Roger Federer for astir by immoderate antheral successful the Open Era.

It's hardly the astir prestigious grounds for Djokovic, whose 24 Grand Slam titles -- including 7 astatine Wimbledon -- are the astir by a antheral player. But helium could astatine slightest usage it to poke amusive astatine his new, and overmuch younger, main rivals.

"Nineteen times, that's a large stat," said the 38-year-old Djokovic. "That's astir apt astir arsenic overmuch arsenic Sinner and Alcaraz person years successful their lives."

Well, not quite.

Carlos Alcaraz, who bushed Djokovic successful the past 2 Wimbledon finals, is 22, portion No. 1-ranked Jannik Sinner -- who was playing aboriginal connected Centre Court -- is 23.

The increasing rivalry betwixt Sinner and Alcaraz -- particularly successful the aftermath of their five-set last astatine the French Open past period -- has helped tennis determination connected from the epoch of the Big Three, wherever Djokovic is the past antheral lasting aft Federer and Rafael Nadal retired.

But Djokovic is excessively focused connected proving helium tin inactive triumph different Slam to beryllium backmost and bespeak connected everything helium has accomplished astatine Wimbledon.

"I don't intermission to reflect, to beryllium honest. I don't person time," Djokovic said successful an on-court interview. "I would similar to. But I deliberation that's going to travel astir apt erstwhile I acceptable the racket speech and past sip margarita connected the formation with Federer and Nadal and conscionable bespeak connected our rivalry and everything."

Against Evans, Djokovic failed to person his archetypal 9 interruption points successful the archetypal set. But erstwhile helium got the breakthrough for a 5-3 pb -- raising some arms successful the aerial arsenic if to accidental "finally" -- helium went five-for-six connected interruption points the remainder of the way.

"You person these kinds of days wherever everything goes your way," said Djokovic, who didn't look a interruption constituent of his ain until the last game. "Everything flows."

Also successful the men's draw, No. 11 Alex de Minaur ousted 115th-ranked Arthur Cazaux 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 and 19th-seeded Grigor Dimitrov outlasted Corentin Moutet 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 7-5.