Novak Djokovic has been flying underneath the radar at Wimbledon. For a while, it looked like Djokovic was regaining the form that he had lost when he switched racquets from Wilson to Head. He retired in a match against Andy Roddick, and his spotty play seemed attributable to his new stick.

When the clay season rolled along, Djokovic was looking good. He lost three times to Rafael Nadal including a heartbreaking loss in a third set tiebreak to the pre-eminent clay courter of our times. Djokovic felt he had never played so well only to come second.

Djokovic then failed to make his semifinal appearance against Roger Federer, falling meekly to Philipp Kohlschreiber. He made some amends by making the finals of Halle, but still lost 6-1 in the third set to Tommy Haas.

Attention prior to the start of Wimbledon went to the top three players. Number 1 Rafael Nadal was in the “will he or won’t he” play mode and finally announced last Friday that he would not defend his title. The health of his knee occupied the news cycles the week prior to Wimbledon. Number 2, Roger Federer, fresh of his Roland Garros win was considered a prohibitive favorite to win Wimbledon. With the French Open monkey finally off his back, many felt Roger would relax and start to pile on more majors to his already illustrious set of 14. Grass has always been the surface Roger excels on, and with this win and Nadal’s gimpy knee, surely a rematch would favor the healthier Federer.

Ah, who could forget Andy Murray? Britain’s hopes had long been pinned to the serve-and-volley skills of Tim Henman, but he lacked the ferocious serve of Pete Sampras and his formidable groundstrokes. Henman never made the finals of Wimbledon. Since Henman’s retirement, British allegiance has been placed on newly anointed number 3, Andy Murray. Murray’s game is not the classic grass court game. Chip and charge. Serve and volley.

But then, Wimbledon is no longer the same Wimbledon where Pete Sampras won 7 titles. The surface has been firmed up, the ball made “heavier”. Roger Federer, who served and volleyed to a five set win over Sampras, has abandoned the serve-and-volley and has, like pretty much everyone else, staked his game from the baseline.

Murray’s style of play could be considered eclectic. His critics have called his style passive. He doesn’t have the bullish style of Nadal, nor the power and flash of Federer, nor the precision of Djokovic. Instead, Murray relies on an improved serve, a sharp return, subtle changes of pace, and an uncanny ability to find the ball. He wins as much due to his ability to reach seemingly unreachable balls and flick them for winners as he does with sheer power. It is a thinking man’s game, as evidenced by the prodigious amount of video Murray keeps on his potential opponents.

Murray’s stock rose when he beat American James Blake at Queen’s Club. Can the man who finds a hard court more friendly to his style of play become the first Brit since Fred Perry (whose clothes he wears) to win Wimbledon? A certain Swiss player may have something to say about that.

The Brits meanwhile are on full Murray alert. His every step monitored, his eating habits scrutinized, his comments pondered over.

And that leaves Djokovic, the guy who should have made a splash at Roland Garros, the odd man out. Everyone knows Djokovic has the capability to play great tennis. He’s certainly not lacking for confidence. But lately, he’s been inconsistent. Retired at the Australian Open, lost in the second round last year at Wimbledon, failed to make the quarters of the French Open (where he reached the semis twice in the last two years).

Djokovic played a tough first round match against Julien Benneteau (rank: 81, age: 27). The first two sets went to tiebreaks before he won sets 3 and 4 more comfortably. Score: 6-7(8), 7-6(1), 6-2, 6-4.

The other surprise result of the day was Feliciano Lopez. Playing lucky loser, Karol Beck (rank: 143, age: 27), Lopez was the unlucky loser in this marathon: 1-6. 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 10-8. Lopez reached the quarterfinals last year.

Other results:
Canas d. Junquiera 6-1, 6-2, 6-2
Karlovic d. Lacko 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3
Querrey d. Udomchoke 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Darcis d. Dancevic 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-3
Almagro d. Monaco 6-7(3), 6-7(7), 7-6(5), 6-4, 8-6
Robredo d. Gregorc 7-6(4), 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(3)
Scheuttler d. Malisse 6-7(9), 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-1
Tipsarevic d. Henrych 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4)
Cilic d. Martin 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Spadea d. Capdeville 6-0, 6-4, 7-5
Bolleli d. Kollerer 6-7(3), 2-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-4

Monaco is becoming the king of tiebreaks. He must play more tiebreaks than anyone not named Karlovic. Querrey finally makes it out of the first round. Spadea has a nice win. Karlovic also gets out of the first round.

Andy Roddick and Andy Murray are the top seeds playing tomorrow.