Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis “can’t wait” after breaking his Wimbledon hoodoo to set up a second-round blockbuster with three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic.

Five long years since his last appearance at the All England Club, Kokkinakis continued his 2022 renaissance with a watershed 7-6 (7-5) 6-2 7-5 victory over Poland’s Kamil Majchrzak on Monday.

After two previous first-round defeats, plus two unsuccessful qualifying campaigns, the 26-year-old was finally savouring his maiden win on London’s hallowed grass courts.

“I’m super happy with how the result panned out. A lot of doubt coming into the tournament. Wasn’t sure how I’d pull up, how I’d play, if I would even play,” Kokkinakis said, having hurt his left knee in an on-court tumble at Surbiton three weeks ago.

The South Australian’s rich reward is a show-court showdown on Wednesday with Djokovic, the 20-times grand slam champion chasing a seventh Wimbledon crown – and fourth straight.

“Can’t wait. Can’t wait for the opportunity,” Kokkinakis said.

“Definitely was in the back of my mind playing that match. I obviously saw the draw.

“I’m not one of those people that doesn’t look ahead. I knew I had a tough match obviously first, but definitely knew what was at stake.”

Tweet from @TKokkinakis

Djokovic opened his title bid with a scratchy 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Korean Soonwoo Kwon under a closed roof on centre court.

The Serbian superstar’s only previous clash with Kokkinakis also came at a grand slam when Djokovic edged the Australian 6-4 6-4 6-4 in a centre-court duel in Paris seven years ago.

“I was real young,” Kokkinakis said.

“It’s a completely different surface playing him. It’s a surface that I haven’t been too comfortable with in the past but I felt pretty great out there today.

“It’s obviously going to be a really tough challenge. He’s won the last how many years here. Yeah, I’m probably not the favourite, let’s put it that way.

“It’s going to be good fun out there and I’m going to swing free hopefully and play my game.

“He’s a brick wall, so you kind of got to beat him. He’s not going to beat himself.”

Kokkinakis, who also landed his maiden ATP title in January in Adelaide, was the only Australian winner on a rain-marred day one of the championships.

James Duckworth’s much-anticipated centre-court battle with Andy Murray ended in a gallant 4-6 6-3 6-2- 6-4 defeat to Britain’s two-time Wimbledon champion and former world No.1 Andy Murray.

John Millman bowed out with a 6-3 2-6 6-3 6-4 loss to Serbia’s 25th seed Miomir Kecmanovic, while Sydney qualifier Max Purcell fell 6-3 7-6 (7-0) 4-6 4-6 6-4 to Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in a three-hour, 53-minute epic.

Maddison Inglis couldn’t extend her run from qualifying either, going down 5-7 6-3 6-4 to Hungarian Dalma Galfi.

Astra Sharma will resume her tussle with Germany’s Tatjana Maria on Tuesday after the match was suspended under fading light at one set apiece, with the Australian to serve at 6-4 3-6.

Fellow qualifier Zoe Hives and wildcard Daria Saville had their scheduled matches postponed until day two.

That leaves 10 Australians playing on Tuesday, including title hope Nick Kyrgios against British wildcard Paul Jubb.

– AAP