Wimbledon 2023: Confident and relaxed Djokovic skewers barbecue fan Cachin

By James Toney at Wimbledon

Not much was known about Novak Djokovic's first round opponent but a quick internet search revealed he was a big fan of barbecuing.

Vegan Djokovic duly kebabbed, grilled and skewered Pedro Cachin, the world number 67, 6-3 6-3 7-6 to secure his 29th consecutive win at Wimbledon, a smokin' start to his pursuit of a fifth straight title.

The last time Djokovic lost on Centre Court was a decade ago, beaten by Andy Murray in that year's final, the effortless nature of this encounter, only underlines why that record looks odds-on to roll on.

Djokovic may be the least loved of the big three at Wimbledon, well behind the retired Roger and absent Rafa in the popularity stakes, but at this place familiarity eventually breeds respect.

And the Serbian is playing the game, spending a good five minutes on court posing for selfies and signing those improbably oversized tennis balls impossible to get home on the Tube.

Indeed the only thing that didn't run according to plan was a 90 minute delay due to rain, the grass not drying out from a sharp shower despite closing the roof and turning on their state of the art air conditioning system.

"I still feel nerves, I don't remember playing ever playing an official match without nerves," said Djokovic.

"It's a feeling like no other tournament, walking out on the fresh grass as a defending champion. It was a solid performance but I know I can play better.

"I've not had an official match on grass, so I knew I wouldn't be at 100 percent, as the tournament progresses I can raise my levels."

Djokovic didn't play a warm-up tournament after winning in Paris, his record 23rd Slam, preferring to go hiking with his wife Jelena in the Azores.

Doing things different has always been the first page of the defending champion's playbook.

"I needed to get away and get isolated, mentally I need to feel absolutely refreshed for a tournament like Wimbledon," he added.

"It was never in the plan to play a grass court event, I just haven't done that for a few years and that's worked well for me.

"It's better for me to spend a week training on grass than playing tournaments on grass. I was exhausted physically and emotionally after Paris and I needed to regroup. I feel great now."

Norwegian Casper Rudd, the number four seed, needed four sets to come through his match with France's Laurent Lokoli and will now face Britain's Liam Broady in the second round.

Broady also claimed a French scalp, Constant Lestienne, dropping just nine games in a 6-1 6-3 7-5 win.

Lestienne is a part-time conjurer, who performs at weddings and parties, but he never looked like pulling off a comeback trick in a match that Broady, who has won four times here in his previous five appearances, dominated.

Broady, the world number 142, is something of a free spirit in British tennis, where he is supported by the LTA’s Pro Access Programme.

A deep-thinker not afraid to speak his mind, the 29-year-old has often threatened to crack the world's top 100 - getting within 16 places last year - but just needs that breakthrough moment.

“Casper has a beast of a game. He absolutely rips the ball," he said. "He's a physical beast in his own way.

“I think it will be a fantastic opportunity. This is the reason I play tennis, to get these opportunities.

"My preparations couldn't have gone better. I felt great going to bed. I don't normally sleep well before matches, but I slept well and I kind of felt like I was ready. I think the performance showed that, it's my first-ever straight-sets win at Wimbledon."

For the latest action on the British summer grass court season, check out the LTA website