Djokovic faces Evans test at Wimbledon, Rybakina takes on Sakkari

LONDON :The second round of Wimbledon continues on Thursday, with Novak Djokovic resuming his hunt for an eighth crown when he meets Dan Evans, while 2022 champion Elena Rybakina faces Maria Sakkari.

TOP MEN'S MATCH: DAN EVANS V NOVAK DJOKOVIC

Djokovic will be hoping to be rid of the stomach bug that caused him nervous moments in his opening round win over unseeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller when he meets Evans on Centre Court.

The Serbian cannot afford any distractions against the Briton, who is among a select handful of players to have crossed paths with Djokovic without tasting defeat.

Evans won their only previous meeting, a 6-4 7-5 victory in Monte Carlo in 2021.

"For sure, he's a super talented player and a great competitor. Always backs himself up on the court, believes in himself," Djokovic said.

"Playing obviously against a Brit in Britain, it's never easy. I have to be ready for a great battle. I haven't played him in a long time. The only time we played was on clay actually. He beat me in Monte Carlo.

"He uses his slice quite a lot. I think that favours grass courts because the ball stays low. He can serve and volley. He chips the ball, comes in, mixes up the pace. He's really a tricky opponent to play against."

TOP WOMEN'S MATCH: ELENA RYBAKINA V MARIA SAKKARI

Rybakina has perhaps struggled to live up to her promise after winning Wimbledon in 2022, but she has made a habit of raising her level at the All England Club.

The 26-year-old reached the quarter-finals in 2023 and lost in three sets to eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova in last year's semi-finals.

The Russian-born Kazakh will fancy her chances when she comes up against Sakkari in the second round, having beaten the Greek in their last three meetings, though