Novak Djokovic secures a straight-sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas to power into the third round at Wimbledon 2026

Novak Djokovic eased into the third round with a comfortable straight-sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas on Centre Court.

The seven-time champion moved 13-2 up in the head-to-head with the Greek as he posted a 6-3 6-4 6-2 success in one hour and 38 minutes.

The Serb broke early and that was enough to seal a rapid 27-minute opener.

Tsitsipas took care of business on serve far more efficiently in the second set, but some inspired defence from Djokovic in the ninth game saw him steal the break point before serving out to love.

The seventh seed relentlessly attacked the world No. 87’s one-handed backhand to secure the break in the fifth game of the third stanza, and he rampaged clear from there to set up a third-round tussle with France’s Arthur Rinderknech.

GAME, SET AND MATCH! - DJOKOVIC 6-3 6-4 6-2 TSITSIPAS

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Djokovic glosses over a double fault and a couple of loose errors to fight off two break points and serve out from deuce on his first match point.

The Serb fired 33 winners and coughed up just seven unforced errors in a near flawless showing.

Djokovic is almost toying with Stef now.

The Serb almost does the splits turning defence into attack and pops away a nonchalant backhand pass after bamboozling the Greek with a velvety drop shot.

The Serb tees up triple break point with a sizzling return and then bags the insurance break on the second of them with a sumptuous lob.

Too good.

Tsitsipas stares at the line as Djokovic’s almost effortless forehand skims the back edge of the baseline to see him consolidate to love with aplomb.

Is that the killer blow?

Stef’s backhand malfunctions and he can’t find the first serve as he trails 15-40.

Nole unloads a barrage of crosscourt backhands to the one-hander and forces the error into the net to earn the break.

Is this following a familiar pattern, with both players holding efficiently before the Stefanos hiccup?

We shall see, but it’s business as usual for Novak as he posts a hold to 15 to tie the set at two apiece.

It’s a swing and a miss from Tsitsipas as he lines up a forehand but doesn’t connect as the ball skips up off the baseline.

The Greek hits back from 0-30 and staves off a break point with a crosscourt pass that has Nole diving in vain.

The world number 87 wriggles clear from deuce to avoid what would surely have been a catastrophe for his slim hopes here.

Djokovic deploys a very tidy serve and volley combo and slaps down his 11th ace to shut the door on another love hold.

Tsitsipas left court to clear his head between sets.

The world number 87 has done very little wrong here but two slight dips on serve have been ruthlessly punished by the veteran Serb.

It’s a solid start to Set 3 for the Greek but it’s evident he needs to do more on the return to suggest he can make a real match of it from here.

The 24-time Major winner serves out to love to claim a two-set lead and leave Stef with a familiar sinking feeling in this match-up.

Tsitsipas finds his first serve in the nick of time with an ace down the T after a wayward mid-court forehand flew wide to pique Nole’s interest at 30-30.

Djokovic keeps the heat on with ridiculous depth off the forehand and tests Stef's nerve by hanging around at deuce.

The Greek wobbles with a very loose forehand long to cough up the break point and an air of inevitability washes over Centre Court.

The world number 87 looks in control of the rally but can't put away a couple of overheads with outstanding defence seeing Novak steal the point and the breakthrough.

Djokovic falls awkwardly angling away a backhand volley, but he seems fine as he follows it with his ninth and 10th aces of the evening to surge to a clean hold and level at four apiece.

Tsitsipas has taken care of business on serve rather impressively in this second set and his 11th ace closes-out another dominant game to 15.

Tsitsipas comes out on top in a fierce forehand to forehand exchange but it’s a solitary triumph in the context of the game as Djokovic pulls clear again and seals the hold to 15 with a bewitching lob.

It’s another excellent service game from the Greek.

It’s just that one lapse so far and he needs to keep this up continuously if he’s to make a serious impact here.  

Novak absolutely cruises through a love hold, pushing Stefanos from side to side as he almost toys with the Greek before despatching winners on his way to another love hold.

Tsitsipas takes care of another efficient service game as his ninth ace concludes a tidy hold to 15.

Djokovic nods and smiles in appreciation as Tsitsipas races to his right to track down a sizzling crosscourt forehand and despatch one of his own around the net post and in down the line.

It sees the Greek engineer an opening at 0-30 but he can’t keep a return in play on the next two serves and Djokovic slams down a pair of aces to get out of dodge.

Tsitsipas kicks off Set 2 on the front foot as another wide ace keeps Novak at bay with a game to 30 that could have been developed into a more complicated scenario.

Djokovic has played well within his comfort zone here without having to hit any significant heights.

The seventh seed drills a trademark backhand down the line to conclude a 27-minute opener in style.