Wimbledon 2023 LIVE: Just Stop Oil make second protest as Novak Djokovic returns

Jordan Thompson 3-6 2-1 Novak Djokovic*

Thompson’s ace count is now up to eight. He’s pinning the ball to the T line from both sides of the court and Djokovic’s issues returning the ball continue.

The Australian flies up to 40-0 with another ace but misses his first serve and gets punished by a powerful backhand. Another missed serve from Thompson sees Djokovic draw him into another rally which goes the Serb’s way too.

Thompson takes the game as a lob shot from Djokovic goes long!

*Jordan Thompson 3-6 1-1 Novak Djokovic

Thompson gets Djokovic’s serve back with a backhand but the Serb responds with a fizzing forehand down the line. Thompson took the first point of the game but the Serb closed the door quickly and holds serve.

Jordan Thompson 3-6 1-0 Novak Djokovic*

Novak Djokovic is smiling and having a great time out there despite needing to work out how best to handle Thompson’s serve. The Australian gets the second set going and utilises the wide serve to Djokovic’s forehand. It pays off and he claims the first game without too much trouble.

*Jordan Thompson 3-6 Novak Djokovic

The most dispiriting thing about the match so far for Jordan Thompson is that he hasn’t had a sniff at breaking Djokovic’s serve. A late out call almost brings him a point but Djokovic challenges and hawkeye awards him the point.

Game and set! Djokovic takes the first set in just half an hour with no unforced errors.

Jordan Thompson 3-5 Novak Djokovic*

It’s clear that Thompson has developed this gameplan to get up to the net and take on Djokovic. He wins the first point on the eighth game with an overhead volley before striding up the court and volleying home another winner.

Combined with his six aces and Thompson may be on to something but Djokovic is taking enough points from him to nullify his good work.

*Jordan Thompson 2-5 Novak Djokovic

Djokovic is clinical from his own serve. A brutal service game to love takes him to within one game of claiming the first set. Jordan Thompson hasn’t done a great deal wrong but his gameplan of serve and volley isn’t coming off as well as he’d like.

His approaches to the net from Djokovic’s serve also don’t yield the results he wants. Lots to think about for the Australian.

Grigor Dimitrov responded to the Just Stop Oil protest on Court 18 after victory over Sho Shimabukuro: “Obviously it’s not pleasant. In the end of the day there is not much you can do. I think everyone in a way did their part as quick as possible.

“I mean, rain was coming so it was also a little bit fortunate to come off the court and have some time to, you know, kind of like regroup a little bit and, you know, shake it off.

“Yeah, I thought everything was just handled good. I think, yeah, after that when we came back on the court was just all good.”

Jordan Thompson 2-4 Novak Djokovic*

Thompson has the chance to punish Djokovic for a lob that falls short. The goes for the overhead volley and spanks it out of play. The Australian is saved form a potential sticky situation by two fabulous serves that trouble Djokovic who misses the returns.

The Serb meets the next one with a solid hit though and belts it back at Thompson who comes up to the net. His volley is poor and gets powered past him to bring the game up to deuce.

Djokovic moves to advantage with a volley from the net and wins the break when a serve and volley from Thompson is pushed out of play.

*Jordan Thompson 2-3 Novak Djokovic

Conclusive stuff from the defending champion who rattles through another game with a hold to love. Thompson drilled too many returns over the back to give the points to Djokovic.

He moves ahead once more.

Jordan Thompson 2-2 Novak Djokovic*

Thompson targets the Djokovic backhand from his serve and gets the Serb to ping the ball out of play. He follows up with a serve down the T line and quickly moves 30-0 ahead.

The Australian shoots through the game and draws back level in the set.