Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic was made to work hard after a strong start as he began his bid for a 25th Grand Slam title by beating unseeded Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7(7) 6-2 6-2 to reach the second round on Tuesday.

To think, this had promised to be such a serene evening’s work for Novak Djokovic that his seven-year-old daughter, Tara, seemed more preoccupied with her colouring-in book. But out of a clear blue sky came an almost inexplicable act of self-sabotage.