The case for Novak Djokovic ending this fortnight with a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title is strengthening by the match.

The 38-year-old rolled back the years with a vintage display in what was a Centre Court mauling of his Serbian compatriot Miomir Kecmanovic, as he raced to a 6-3 6-0 6-4 victory.

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Djokovic hit 60 winners to go with 19 unforced errors. There was a run of 14 games won out of 15. He did not face a break point until serving for the match for the first time, when a brief stumble suddenly appeared.

That late drop in standards aside, this was a performance to send a message to the likes of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. Djokovic is the sixth seed but there are certainly not five players more likely to win these Championships than him. On current evidence, there might not be any.

“I have enjoyed myself very much apart from the last couple of games,” Djokovic said in his on-court interview.

“It was good to close it out in the end. There was some tension and things got a bit complicated.

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Kecmanovic, the world No49, had made a confident start to the match, levelling the first set up at 3-3 with an ace out wide. He might have celebrated that more vigorously had he known how long the wait would be to pick up another game.

Djokovic broke at the perfect time to lead 5-3, having won arguably the point of the tournament on his way to doing so. There were drop shots, lobs and smashes, all accompanied by Centre Court gasps, before Djokovic put an end to the madness with a diving volley.

He then served out the set in routine fashion, before putting on a masterclass in the second set. He hit 13 winners and just two unforced errors, breaking in the opening game and then making it a double break with a sublime backhand down the line.

Kecmanovic had no answers, winning only seven points in the set, and the seven-time champion at the All England Club wrapped up the bagel with a rapid hold to love.

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That made it nine games in a row, a run Kecmanovic ended by holding to start the third set, but he was then broken from 40-0 up to hand Djokovic a break and a 2-1 lead.

Another break soon followed and Djokovic stepped up to serve for the match at 5-2. A loose volley gave Kecmanovic his first break point of the match and Djokovic sent a backhand long, dropping serve for the first time in the tournament.

Kecmanovic was buoyed by that and his standard raised, with further encouragement given when Djokovic then sent down back-to-back double faults to threaten some late drama.

He put that behind him to bring up a match point and get over the line at the first time of asking for his 100th win at Wimbledon. Only Roger Federer with 105 has more.

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"That sounds very nice,” Djokovic said.

“I am very grateful and privileged to be in this position. Tennis made me who I am and has given me incredible things in life. I never take anything for granted, especially at this age.

“I am still pushing myself to the limits and getting some splits and slides on the court. Wimbledon is a dream tournament of so many of us players. Any history here is a blessing."

Djokovic will face Alex de Minaur, the 11th seed, in the fourth round after the Australian beat the Dane August Holmgren in straight sets.