Defending champ Djokovic advances at Wimbledon

Wimbledon: Defending champion Novak Djokovic has won his opening match at Wimbledon by beating former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. In keeping with custom, the defending men's champ played the first match on Monday on Centre Court.

Djokovic was broken in his second service game but held the rest of the way, losing only nine points on his first serve. He hit 13 aces.

The top-ranked Djokovic is bidding for his sixth Grand Slam title. He won three in a row before losing the French Open final to Rafael Nadal two weeks ago.

The only defending men's champion to lose a first-round match at Wimbledon in the Open era was Lleyton Hewitt in 2003.