Novak Djokovic has turned in a commanding performance for new coach Andre Agassi as the French Open holder hammered home a 6-1 6-4 6-3 thrashing of Joao Sousa to reach the third round.
The second seed, advised on a trial basis this week by the 47-year-old US legend as the pair test out a more permanent arrangement, was untroubled on Wednesday by his 59th-ranked opponent from Portugal.
“I had a great first set, pretty much did everything I wanted,” Djokovic said. “Midway second set until maybe midway third set, I felt like maybe I took off the foot from the gas a little bit.
“In some important moments I was hanging in there. The way I ended the match and last couple of games was positive. The way I started, as well.”
He now faces Diego Schwartzman in the third round after the Argentinian beat Stefano Napolitano 6-3 7-5 6-2. Canadian fifth seed Milos Raonic beat Rogerio Dutra Silva 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4.
Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem crushed Italy’s Simone Bolelli 7-5 6-1 6-3.
Belgian 10th seed David Goffin beat Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-2 6-4 3-6 6-3.
There was a dramatic encounter on Court 6 where 25th seed Steve Johnson defeated young Croatian Borna Coric 6-2 7-6 (10-8) 3-6 7-6 (8-6).
The American was furious after being given a point penalty for ball abuse on match point at 4-5 in the fourth set and called referee Wayne McEwen onto court to argue his point.
It was to no avail but Johnson held his nerve to clinch victory in the tie-break before his emotions took over.
While Johnson, who lost his father unexpectedly earlier this month, sobbed at the net, Coric angrily destroyed his racket in a series of full-blooded blows.
Bulgaria’s 11th seed Grigor Dimitrov continued his run with a straight-sets win over Spain’s Tommy Robredo. Dimitrov will be joined in the third round by Nikoloz Basilashvili, Lucas Pouille, Albert Ramos, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Pablo Carreno and Horacio Zeballos.
In Wednesday’s final two men’s clashes Czech Jiri Vesely dispatched Britain’s Aljaz Bedene in four sets. Vesely will next face Spanish 17th seed Roberto Bautista.
