Djokovic-Roddick stirred considerable anticipation as second-round matches go, and the crowd was near capacity when they took the court, with both players wearing red, white and blue. For the first time in the tournament, even the Royal Box was almost full.
Roddick started well enough, holding his first two service games, but from there the match quickly slipped away. His big serve was negated as a weapon against the game's best returner, and in baseline rallies Roddick was no match for Djokovic, who deployed his extensive arsenal of slices, drop shots and rocket-like groundstrokes.
Djokovic won seven consecutive games during one stretch, and 12 of the final 13. He finished with 14 aces, lost only 10 points in eight service games and had just six unforced errors.
In the final game Roddick hit a perfect drop shot, but Djokovic ran it down and whipped it crosscourt for a winner. The Serb stood with his arms raised, basking in the roar of the crowd while Roddick shook his head.
"That was one of the best drop shots I ever hit," Roddick shouted to Djokovic 
when the cheers died down.
Djokovic smiled. Then he hit another ace. A bronze medalist in 2008 and a Wimbledon champion last year, Djokovic has big hopes in the tournament but plans to savor the Olympics regardless. He enjoys hanging out in the athletes village and met two-time NHL MVP Alex Ovechkin, who agreed to trade a hockey stick for a racket.
"The basics of any Olympic Games is to be alongside the best athletes in the world, to dine with them, to make pictures with them, to chat, exchange experiences," Djokovic said. "This happens only every four years."
