Djokovic through in three sets

Fourth seed Novak Djokovic reached the third round at Wimbledon with a straight-sets victory over battling German qualifier Simon Greul.

Greul, ranked 106th in the world, was willed on by the Court One crowd but could not keep pace with the power of his Serbian opponent.

Djokovic won 7-5 6-1 6-4 to set up a third-round clash with America’s Mardy Fish but is not too confident of progressing further.

“I can’t say I am genuinely pleased with the game,” said Djokovic. “I had a lot of ups and downs and I wasn’t serving well when I was up. I am happy to get through in straight sets.

“I just try to go step by step. Mardy is very difficult to play on grass and very aggressive. I cannot predict what will happen – I rate my chances 50-50.”

A double fault allowed Greul to break Djokovic in the opening game and the German, playing at Wimbledon for the first time in three years, kept up the pressure on the tournament’s number four seed by holding his serve.

Djokovic began to get his game together though, and turned around a 4-2 deficit to take the opening set.

Greul began the second set as he had done the opener, with a break of serve.

Djokovic took his displeasure out on his racket, slamming it to the ground in anger.

And that show of rage sparked something in the former Australian Open champion who broke back immediately and then held serve to take an early 2-1 lead.

Two more service breaks later and Djokovic had the second set in the bag, and one foot in the last 32.

The pair twice traded breaks of serve in the third set.

But from 4-3 up Greul failed to win another game as Djokovic booked his meeting with Fish in the third round.