London: Defending champion Novak Djokovic and five-time women's winner Serena Williams reached the Wimbledon second round yesterday as organisers boosted security and weathermen ramped up warnings of a crushing heatwave.


Novak Djokovic reacts after his win over Philipp Kohlschreiber at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon yesterday. Pics/AFP 

Top seed Djokovic enjoyed a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber with crucial breaks in the ninth game of each set and goes on to face either 2004 champion Lleyton Hewitt or Jarkko Nieminen for a place in the last 32. "This is the cradle of our sport," said Djokovic, playing his first match since his defeat to Stan Wawrinka at the final of the French Open three weeks ago ended his hopes of completing a career Grand Slam.