Djokovic Heads To Second Round At Wimbledon

Wimbledon's defending champion is through to the second round. Novak Djokovic beat Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Monday in the first round, playing the first match of the tournament on Centre Court.

jokovic, who won the Australian Open this year and then lost in the French Open final, is the man to beat at the All England Club again this year. The top-seeded Serb won his second Wimbledon title last year, and came into this year's tournament with a 41-3 record.

"It's great to be back," Djokovic said. "This is the cradle of our sport, Centre Court. It doesn't get any better than Wimbledon. I am privileged and honored to open this year's Wimbledon Centre Court as defending champion. It really is a special feeling."

Kohlschreiber, the highest-ranked men's player outside the seedings at No. 33, had figured to pose a stiff test for Djokovic, who came to Wimbledon after a painful loss to Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final and without having played a warm-up tournament on grass.