LONDON: Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic and women’s top seed Iga Swiatek started their Wimbledon campaigns with routine victories on Monday as rain temporarily halted play on the outside courts and the threat of climate protests lingered in the air.

Djokovic, 36, has only lost twice at Wimbledon in a decade and began the Centre Court programme with a 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win over Argentine Pedro Cachin after a 70-minute delay despite the roof being closed as ground staff laboured to get the turf dry.

The Serbian jokingly wiped the turf with a towel during the break in play to draw cheers from the crowd before ground staff deployed leaf blowers to get the job done and allow Djokovic to finally close out the victory.

“When I come out, I usually come out with racquets, not towels,” said Djokovic, whose 45 winners featured 13 aces. “The conditions were not great under the roof, it was still slippery. I think it was definitely frustrating for the crowd waiting for us.”

Djokovic, bidding to match Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles, goes on to face Australia’s Jordan Thompson for a place in the third round of a tournament he described as “the holy grail, the temple of tennis”.

“What a second home to have,” he said. “It doesn’t get much better than Wimbledon in terms of history and tradition.”

World number two Djokovic has already pocketed the Australian Open and French Open this year. Winning a men’s-record 23rd major in Paris put him just one behind Margaret Court’s all-time singles mark of 24. He is also half way to pulling off the first calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.

Swiatek continued her quest to solve the grasscourt puzzle that has frustrated her by powering past China’s Zhu Lin 6-1, 6-3 with the contest finishing under the Court One roof due to rain.

World number one Swiatek, who last month claimed her third French Open crown and is eyeing a fifth Grand Slam title, meets Martina Trevisan or Sara Sorribes Tormo next.

“I feel confident and did a good job of adjusting to grass,” said the 22-year-old Pole, who has yet to get past the last 16 at Wimbledon.

Fourth seed Jessica Pegula also advanced to the second round but was made to work hard for a 6-2, 6-7 (8/10), 6-3 victory by fellow American Lauren Davis while twice Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka beat China’s Yuan Yue 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

There was the usual buzz of anticipation around the grounds as queues began building ahead of the 1000GMT start time on the outside courts while many fans were forced to wait longer than usual to enter.

Organisers said on Twitter the grounds are expected to be at capacity, adding that fans intending to queue should not travel to the All England Club.

Sun cream was not in demand, though, with cloudy skies and a cool blustery wind ushering in the first day of 14.

Rain is expected throughout the opening days although that will not affect those with tickets for Centre Court and Court One, both of which boast retractable roofs.

Security was on high alert for any sign of protests after several high-profile sporting events in Britain this year were disrupted, including last week’s Ashes Test at Lord’s, where climate change protestors ran onto the field and attempted to spread orange powder on the turf.

Political slogans of any sort have been banned around the grounds with Wimbledon organisers determined the focus should remain firmly on the tennis.

Monday also marked the return of players from Russia and Belarus after they were excluded from Wimbledon last year following Moscow’s invasion of its neighbour Ukraine.

Russia, which used Belarus as a staging post, calls its actions in Ukraine a “special military operation.

Russian players have to sign a “nationality waiver” pledging they do not support President Vladimir Putin’s regime. All 17 players from the two countries, including men’s third seed Daniil Medvedev, are competing as neutrals.

Medvedev’s compatriot and seventh seed Andrey Rublev moved into the second round with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 win over Australia’s Max Purcell while fellow Russian Veronika Kudermetova beat Estonia’s Kaia Kanepi 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

“I think obviously there were better options — not just to ban,” said Rublev who next faces compatriot Aslan Karatsev. “Because in the end, there was no difference. They did only worse to themselves.”

Published in Dawn, July 4th, 2023