Nole Patrol is TENNIS.com's Wimbledon blog that will provide on-site news, insight and commentary on Novak Djokovic as he aims for a fifth consecutive Grand Slam singles title.

LONDON—James Ward had the honorable and difficult task of being one of the two men to begin play on Wimbledon’s Centre Court—the latter because of his opponent, defending champion Novak Djokovic.

The greatest difference between the two during their first-round encounter on Monday, aside from 176 ranking positions, was Djokovic’s experience. He has been here before, three times a champion, and it showed early on. The world No. 1 swept Ward off the court in a 6-0 opening set.

A lot has been made of Djokovic’s lack of grass-court matches heading into his title defense, but he’s employed that strategy before, and it didn’t seem to be of any concern on Monday.

“I didn't sense too much rustiness,” Ward said. “He's moving unbelievable. He makes you play so many balls. He returned very well … I don't think he started slow at all, no.”

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The 177th-ranked Brit is best known his Davis Cup heroics during last year’s title run, particularly when he topped John Isner in a five-set, first-round marathon. As a wild card at Wimbledon last year, Ward made a run to the third round before losing to Vasek Pospisil.

Fans celebrated every point the London local won on Monday like it was a goal for England in the UEFA European Championship. But it was painfully clear that, despite the support, Ward was overwhelmed and overmatched. After a shutout set, Djokovic took the next three games.

“I honestly didn't expect myself to start that well,” Djokovic said. “Nine games in a row, 6‑0, 3‑0. I think it was just a matter of time when James will win his first game. I knew that the reaction of the crowd, and his own reaction, will be the way it was.”

When Ward did just that, he raised both arms in celebration to thunderous roars. The spell was broken and he rode the momentum, pulling even to 3-all by breaking Djokovic for the first time.

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“Sometimes you almost think you have to do more than you have to in that situation,” Ward said. “Then things start going really quick.  You have to try and calm down a little bit. I’m proud of myself the way I turned it around because it could have been ugly.”

With Ward finally on the board, he began putting more effective balls in play and managed to challenge Djokovic for the first time, pushing the set into a tiebreak.

“Obviously him as a home player, [he] enjoyed a lot of support today, especially when he won his first game,” Djokovic said. “That's when the energy kind of shifted on his side. On the other hand, I maybe dropped the concentration a little bit.”

Knowing it was time to reassert his dominance, Djokovic stepped up late in the second set and cruised through the tiebreaker, 7-3.

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In the third set, another break saw Djokovic go up 3-1, but Ward refused to go away quietly. A patient and very much in-control Djokovic eventually secured the match, 6-0, 7-6 (3), 6-4 to set up a second-round contest against Adrian Mannarino.

For his efforts, Ward can go home on Monday night without any regrets.

“Look, no one's going to take that day away from me,” Ward said. “I’m proud, as I say, of my efforts. I've seen what I can do against the world No. 1—especially when it started off really tough, to turn it around. You see a lot better players than me lose a lot easier than that in that sort of scenario.”

“Credit to him for serving well,” Djokovic said. “Most of the third set, in important moments, he managed to hit some good angles with the first serves … But the first part of the match was almost flawless, so I'm very pleased with the way I started Wimbledon.”