NOLE WINS

Well maybe we won't trade him in JUST yet!!!

With a shaky start, Nole Cakes moves forward with a win against Olivier Rochus:

(#3) Novak Djokovic   4 6 3 6 6 
Olivier Rochus             6 2 6 4 2

The game had a delay as the roof closed at Centre Court, Wimbledon.   The chairperson ruled for stadium lights as evening darkness was underway.

This break gave each player time to regroup and consult with their coaches.

Nole was coached to start playing an aggressive second serve and with that, his game changed for the better.

The match came within a minute of the 11pm curfew.

It was the longest day of tennis play in history at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet  Club.

Miami Herald reports:

The third-seeded Djokovic outlasted diminutive Belgian Olivier Rochus 4-6, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 under the roof at Centre Court. The players left the court for about a half-an-hour following the third set as the roof was closed and the indoor climate control was kicked into gear.

The roof was closed in order for the lights to be turned on, as the longest- ever day at Wimbledon finally concluded at 10:59 pm local time.

Djokovic prevailed on his first match point, which was an unreturnable serve, as he won the last six games to come out on top.

The 23-year-old Djokovic and Rochus battled for 3 hours, 51 minutes. The Serbian star whacked 17 aces among his whopping 96 winners, but he also piled up 12 double faults. The Serb struck 63 more winners than Rochus, but still needed all five sets to move on.

Djokovic also broke Rochus' serve on nine occasions, compared to seven breaks for the Belgian loser.

Up next for Djokovic will be serve-and-volleying American Taylor Dent, who beat Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela in four sets.