Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have been warned: in the race for the third Slam of the season there will also be Novak Djokovic. The Serbian, looking for his eighth Wimbledon title to catch up with Roger Federer, said he was confident about his health conditions and his recovery from the injury suffered during Roland Garros. Only three weeks after the operation on the meniscus of his right knee, therefore, the number two in the world is ready to compete on the legendary courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London.
“Il knee he responded well, I had no relapses. So why not give me a chance?”, explains Djokovic in the press conference the day before during the “Media Day”. The arrival in London took place last Sunday 23 June, and since then the Serbian tennis player has been measuring himself with some colleagues to check the level of his recovery.“It was a very good week of training”Nole specifies, “especially in the last three days I trained intensely playing points and sets with Sinner, with Frances Tiafoe, yesterday with Medvedev, then a double session with Emil Ruusuvuori, and today with Rune”. These were not simple exchanges, but a conclusive test. “We played with high intensity, there were many situations where the knee was put to the test, such as changes of direction. And it’s gone very well so far.”
This explains why the former number one in the ATP ranking has decided not to cancel himself from the draw: the debut against the Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva is scheduled for next Tuesday 2nd July. The goal is certainly not to take a trip to London or get through a few rounds, but to win his eighth Wimbledon trophy to enrich his record page. He would thus join Roger Federer at the top of the roll of honor of the Championships, he would reach the 25th Slam leaving Margaret Court behind and becoming the most successful in history between men and women, he would be the “oldest” champion in the Open era and the first to triumph on the lawns of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club more than once as an Over 35.
“Obviously when the tournament starts, I will have more sensations and more feedback on how the knee will react in best-of-five set matches.”Djokovic explains further.“When I got injured at Roland Garros I immediately made the decision to have surgery, with many doubts about my participation at Wimbledon”. Then the comparison with some colleagues with similar injuries behind them, starting with Taylor Fritz, pushed him to try.“He told me that 21 days later he was on the court at Wimbledon”explains Nole. “Stan Wawrinka and Lindsay Vonn also shared their experiences. They gave me confidence, they convinced me that I could play Wimbledon if the rehabilitation went well and if the knee responded well.”
“Ho 37 years oldmaybe I should risk less and prepare for the Olympics”Djokovic believes,“but I have an incredible desire to play, simply to compete. Especially here at Wimbledon, a dream tournament since I was a child”.
“If I go on the pitch it’s for the title”warn, “and the last three days have given me enough optimism, they have made me understand that in the next few weeks I can compete at the highest level.”
