Novak Djokovic plays a backhand return to Jacob Fearnley in their second round match at Wimbledon in London on Thursday. (AP photo)

LONDON — The good news, Novak Djokovic said, was that his surgically repaired right knee was pain-free at Wimbledon on Thursday.

The bad news, he knows, is that his movement, such a big part of his success, was not yet back to normal during a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 victory in the second round over Jacob Fearnley, a 22-year-old from Scotland who played college tennis in the U.S.– and that’ll need to improve if Djokovic is going to contend for the title, the only reason he is back competing so soon after a meniscus tear.

“The more matches I have, the better the chance I’ll have to feel more comfortable moving around and gain that speed, agility, change of direction — that freedom that I’m looking for, really. I had it in certain moments today, certain moments in the first match, but then it’s still not there,” said Djokovic, who has won seven of his 24 Grand Slam trophies at the All England Club.

When Fearnley, a wild-card entry ranked just 277th and participating in his first major tournament, grabbed the third set, a roar arose at Centre Court.

It was a big day for the locals, all-in-all, with several attention-grabbing matchups involving British players at the All England Club and national election going on around the U.K.

Serbia's Novak Djokovic hits balls to the ball boys and girls in the second round match of the French Open against Lithuania's Ricardas Berankis at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Oct. 1, 2020. (AP file photo)

“A great day for British tennis,” Fearnley said, “and there’s no better place to do it than at home, at Wimbledon.”

That included Andy Murray, a two-time singles champion at Wimbledon, teaming with his brother, Jamie, during a loss in men’s doubles that began a farewell tour of sorts.

Murray, 37, has said he plans to head into retirement after playing at the All England Club — in men’s and mixed doubles, but not singles, on account of recent back surgery — and the Paris Olympics.

In one all-British matchup won by the unseeded player, Harriet Dart came back to eliminate No. 32 Katie Boulter 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (10-8). In another, Cam Norrie defeated No. 28 Jack Draper 7-6 (3), 6-4, 7-6 (6).

No. 5 Jessica Pegula became the highest-seeded woman to lose so far, dismissed by Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-7 (7), 6-1, and No. 7 Hubert Hurkacz exited the men’s bracket when he needed to stop playing after injuring his right knee while diving to hit a shot late in the fourth set against Arthur Fils.

Play was delayed for several minutes while a trainer examined then taped up Hurkacz’s knee; when action resumed, Hurkacz immediately tried to dive for another volley, then couldn’t continue.

Seeded winners included No. 1 Iga Swiatek — whose current unbeaten streak reached 21 — No. 4 Elena Rybakina, No. 10 Ons Jabeur, No. 11 Danielle Collins, No. 13 Jelena Ostapenko, No. 9 Alex de Minaur, No. 10 Grigor Dimitrov, No. 13 Taylor Fritz and No. 14 Ben Shelton, who won his second consecutive five-setter.

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