Wimbledon | Novak Djokovic advances after Martin Klizan injures himself in Round 1

Novak Djokovic was gifted a place in the Wimbledon second round as injured Martin Klizan was forced to retire, while Angelique Kerber made a confident start to her bid to return to the final

Djokovic, a three-time Wimbledon champion, was leading 6 -3, 2-0 when Slovakian world number 47 Klizan retired after just 40 minutes on Centre Court due to a calf problem.

The 30-year-old Serb will face Adam Pavlasek of the Czech Republic for a place in the last 32.

“He had issues walking on to court. I tried to focus on my game plan, I was serving well and when it mattered I made a break,” said Djokovic, who is aiming to win a first Grand Slam title since last year’s French Open.

“It was great to be back on Centre Court. It’s the cradle of tennis history and it’s a special feeling to walk on, but you never like to end a match this way.”

It was the kind of trouble-free first round Djokovic would have been hoping for after the most turbulent period of his career.

The world number four crashed out in the third round at Wimbledon last year and has struggled badly in 2017, the 12- time major winner losing …read more