Live Commentary: Novak Djokovic vs. Gilles Simon - as it happened

Good afternoon. The players should be making their way out to Centre Court in the next couple of minutes. For the time being, the roof remains open on the showcourt, but there was some rain about earlier affecting matches on the outside courts.

This is the first of three matches scheduled to take place on Centre today. Djokovic is a former champion at this event, and is the number one seed this time around. Simon's best performance at SW19 for a fourth-round appearance in 2009, and this is the first time he's reached round three since 2011.

This will be the first time that these two have played each other for almost four years. They've met seven times before, with their most recent coming in the Davis Cup in 2010, when Djokovic beat the Frenchman in straight sets. Djokovic has a 6-1 winning record over Simon, with his only defeat coming in their first ever match in 2008. However, all of their previous encounters have been on hard courts, so it will be interesting to see how they match up on grass.

The players have just made their way out to Centre Court, being welcomed by a huge cheer from the crowd. They'll be getting underway in a few minutes following a warm-up.

Simon is currently ranked 44th in the world, but has previously been as high as sixth. He's been struggling for form in the last couple of months, but has looked pretty comfortable in his first two matches at Wimbledon.

The winner of this match is likely to face a tricky tie in the next round as 14th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will take on Jimmy Wang for a spot in the last 16 later.

The players are ready to get underway, with Djokovic serving first.

A good return from Simon earns him the first point of the match, but after that it's plain sailing for Djokovic as he fires a series of solid forehands past his opponent for an easy hold of serve.

Pretty straight-forward stuff for Simon too. He places his serves accurately out wide to draw Djokovic out of position before firing back into an open court to quickly wrap up the game.

Djokovic looks to have got up to speed swiftly this lunchtime as he fires two aces past the Frenchman before clinching the game by coming into the net for a volley.

Simon doesn't have the most powerful serve in the game but he sure is accurate as he sends his delivery down the centre line for his first ace of the match. He gets the better of Djokovic in a lengthy rally before the Serb fires his return long on the next point to give Simon the game.

There's a moment of worry for Djokovic as he hits his backhand into the net on back-to-back shots to leave the game at 30-30. Simon appears to have beaten him with a forehand down the line but it was just long, allowing the world number two to edge ahead and seal the game on the next point with a big serve.

BREAK! A couple of below-par serves from Simon allow Djokovic to take the game to deuce before forcing advantage. Simon tries to save the break point, but he mis-hits a volley close into the net to hand Djokovic the game.

BREAK BACK! Djokovic appears to be in control of the game, but Simon levels the scores will a superb forehand down the line before following it up with a cross-court effort to bring up a break back point, which he claims when the top seed taps his forehand into the net, getting the set back on serve.

After more than 10 minutes, Simon finally manages to clinch the game. The Frenchman makes a solid start, picking up the first two points of the game when Djokovic misses a couple of returns. However, he completely mis-hits his serve, with the ball bouncing just in front of his feet on his own side of the court, before he misses an overhead lob. Djokovic gets the chance to break when the Frenchman fires a groundstroke long, but the world number 44 escapes when Djokovic's forehand goes wide. Simon had a couple of chances to close out the game before finally getting over the line when the Serb hit his forehand long.

The tempo of this set has really turned around in the last few games. After the pair rattled through the opening four of five games in no time, this have become a real gritty encounter, with both players battling for every point. Simon takes Djokovic to deuce again, but the Serb just manages to see out the game when Simon tries to volley at the net but fails to get enough height on the ball.

After a really tight set, Djokovic manages to edge in front as Simon makes a couple of errors to present the top seed with a set point, which he takes when the Frenchman slices the ball wide. It was a lengthy set, taking just short of 50 minutes!

Djokovic makes a quick start to the second set, serving well to force a couple of long returns from Simon before the Frenchman hands him the game when he fires into the net. It looks like the Serb is particularly focused following his first-set win.

Simon makes the first double fault of the match, but had already opened up a 40-0 lead before the error. Djokovic tries to put him under pressure with a drop shot attempt, but the ball drops too soon and fails to clear the net, giving his opponent a comfortable hold of serve.

Djokovic is struggling as he smashes a couple of balls long before a wide forehand brings up two break points for the Serb. The top seed pulls out a range of shots to save the first before Simon fires long to send the game to deuce. The world number two has advantage and thinks he's won the game when a Simon shot is called long, but the Frenchman challenges and hawkeye reveals that the finest slither of the ball just clipped the baseline. However, he slices the ball into the net as the point is replayed to allow Djokovic to take the game.

BREAK! Simon appears to have let his focus slipped a little, losing back-to-back points due to long shots to give Djokovic a chance to break, and he hands his opponent the game with another error on his forehand.

BREAK BACK! As in the first set when Djokovic claimed a break, Simon manages to get the break back straight away. The top seed makes a backhand volley mistake to give the Frenchman the lead before another couple of mistakes on the backhand allow Simon to get the set back on serve. The players have a break for drinks at the end of the game, and Djokovic buries his head under the towel.

BREAK! Djokovic appears to have regained his composure pretty quickly as he races to a 40-0 lead to give himself three chances to go a break up again. A long forehand wastes the first before a superb forehand from Simon saves the second, but the top seed restores his advantage with a delicate volley at the net.

This time Djokovic manages to consolidate the break as Simon fails to return the first three serves from the Serb before slicing a cross-court forehand into the net. The world number two is just one game off a two-set lead now.

Djokovic is trying to wrap the set up on Simon's serve to leave himself serving in the opening game of the third, and manages to force the game to deuce when he comes into the net looking to volley, forcing an errors from the Frenchman. The Serb finds the back corner with a stunning two-handed backhand to give him set point, which he claims when Simon makes a double fault. What a disappointing end to the set for the world number 44.

BREAK! Simon makes some strong returns to give himself a chance to break in the opening game of the third set. He wastes the first break point as he tries to slice the ball out wide, but a mistake from Djokovic in the next point gives the Frenchman the break. Although this is the third time that he has broken the top seed's serve, this is the first time that he has been a break up.

Simon fires an ace past his opponent at the star of the game before forcing forehand and backhand errors from the top seed to comfortably take the game and consolidate his break. It really has been an impressive start to the third set by the Frenchman, who could have easily let his head drop after losing the second set.

Djokovic eases to a 40-0 lead as he tries to get on the board in this third set, but Simon fights back, forcing a couple of mistakes from his opponent, but he can't take the game to deuce as he fires his forehand wide.

BREAK! Simon picks up the first two points but double faults to let Djokovic back into the game, before a backhand winner from the number one seed levels the scores. The Serb gets the chance to break when Simon edges his backhand wide, but the game heads to deuce. However, back-to-back forehand mistakes from the Frenchman following strong returns from Djokovic allow him to get the set back on serve, cancelling out Simon's break from the first game.,

Simon immediately has the chance to get the break back when Djokovic mis-judges his forehand. However, the Frenchman can't get his volley over the net on the next point to take the game to deuce. Djokovic manages to hold on to seal the game when Simon narrowly fires two forehands long, resulting in him letting out a howl of disappointment at the end of the game.

Big worry for the top seed here as he dives to make a return and lands awkwardly on his shoulder. He stays on the ground clutching his upper arm before being helped back to his chair. The trainer has been called to the court, and there's worry etched on the faces of Djokovic, his coach Boris Becker and fans around the court.

The trainer is currently moving Djokovic's left arm around to test the range of movement in his shoulder, and there's a few obvious grimaces on the Serb's face. This really doesn't look good for the world number two.

The doctor has come out to join the trainer, who is still focusing on the shoulder. Meanwhile, Simon is out of his chair trying to keep warm in case he's required to continue.

WATCH: Novak Djokovic takes a concerning tumble. The trainer is out now. #Wimbledon http://t.co/MgQKFWNovu

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2014

Well the good news is that he's up and he's going to try to continue. Theoretically, Djokovic only needs three more games before he can get off court and rest.

Resuming at 40-30 to Simon following the injury timeout, the Frenchman double faults, but he gets the better of Djokovic in a lengthy rally before the Serb returns his next serve into the net.

Well the shoulder certainly doesn't seem to be holding Djokovic back on serve as he races to a 40-15 lead before Simon smashes hos forehand long.

Things seem to be going Djokovic's way at the start of the game as Simon's forehand catches the net chord on the way through, only to set the Serb up nicely for a forehand winner into the open court. On the following point, a long rally is brought to an end when Simon slices his forehand just wide to give the top seed a chance to break. The Frenchman saves the first with a smash before hitting a volley to take it to deuce. Back-to-back forehand errors from Djokovic allow the world number 44 to keep the set with serve for the time being, but Djokovic is certainly looking dangerous at the minute.

Djokovic moves within one game of a place in the fourth round, hitting two aces for the first two points of the game before Simon struggles to return his next two to allow Djokovic a comfortable hold.

Well the trainer is being made to earn his money this afternoon as Simon is seeking treatment now. Fortunately it seems to just be for a fresh plaster on a finger blister on his racquet hand. Now's a good time to have it seen to, as he's serving to stay in the match next.

UPDATE: We now know that the winner of this match will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last 16 as he's beaten Jimmy Wang in straight sets.

A poor backhand from Simon ends up in the net, giving Djokovic a match point.

Djokovic looks more relieved than anything as he hits an overhead smash past Simon from close into the net to wrap up the match in straight sets. The top seed didn't look at his peak today, and there's obviously some concern regarding his shoulder, but he won't have to play again until Monday so has a couple of days to recover.

Simon put up a decent fight, but Djokovic managed to time his breaks at just the right time to ensure that he didn't have to spend any longer than necessary on court, setting up a meeting with the 14th seed in the fourth round.

Well that's all from Centre Court for the time being, but stick around to read match reports and reaction to all of the top seeds in action today, including defending men's champion Andy Murray, who is in action on Centre later today. Thanks for joining me this afternoon, goodbye.