In the end, it was worth the wait for Novak Djokovic. Five days after he arrived on England’s so-called ‘Sunshine Coast’ — including, ironically, almost a solid 24 hours of rain - the world No.4 produced a business-like straight-sets win over the dangerous Vasek Pospisil on his Aegon International debut.
After their second round match was halted by downpour after downpour on Tuesday, the No.1 seed and wild card returned on Wednesday to produce enough quality to beat the world No.75 6-4, 6-3 in an hour and 25 minutes.
Djokovic raised his game to break Pospisil with the Canadian serving at 4-5 in the first set, and again took the qualifier’s serve midway through the second.
A break in each set proved enough to earn the Serb his opening win of the grass season in what was his first match on the surface since his shock third round Wimbledon defeat to American Sam Querrey last summer.
“I felt good on the court, considering it's the first match,” said Djokovic, who will face American Donald Young in the last eight on Thursday.
“I have played against an opponent that has a really good game for grass. Serves well, comes to the net, has a good variety. It was a really, really solid win. I'm happy with it.”
Had Pospisil taken either of the two break points that came his way in Djokovic’s opening service game early on Tuesday things might have been different.
The powerful 27-year-old, who beat Andy Murray in Indian Wells in March, will also regret failing to take what turned out to be his best opportunity to break midway through the second set.
With Djokovic facing break point at 2-2, the Canadian chose to let a high ball bounce rather than take on the overhead, he quickly lost initiative in the rally and the chance was gone.
Worse was to come when Pospisil immediately threw in a poor service game to trail by a set and 4-2. From there, he never really looked like turning it around.
Earlier in the week, Djokovic had confirmed 'super coach' Andre Agassi will be alongside him at Wimbledon and after his victory over Pospisil said he is in regular contact with the American.
“We still keep the communication on more or less a daily basis,” Djokovic said. “He shares his thoughts. He obviously wants me to share what I feel and how I see things.
“It's still quite early in the relationship, so we are still getting to know each other, getting a sense of how we go about tennis, about life, and what are our perspectives and analysis of the match. But so far we have managed to connect very quickly.”
Organisers had been hoping that by Wednesday evening, the quarter-final line-up would be complete, but persistent rain just before 5pm meant Djokovic and Young were the only two players to make it through to the last eight.
American Steve Johnson is the only other seed in the top half after No.5 seed Sam Querrey lost to Russian youngster Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 7-5 in their first round contest. In the bottom half, No.2 seed Gael Monfils, No.3 seed John Isner, No.6 seed Mischa Zverev and No.7 seed Richard Gasquet will all be back on Thursday hoping to progress.
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