Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are warned: they will also be there for the race for the third Slam of the season Novak Djokovic. The Serbian, seeking his eighth Wimbledon title to catch up with Roger Federer, said he was confident about his health and recovery from the injury he suffered at Roland Garros. Just three weeks after undergoing surgery on the meniscus in his right knee, the world number two 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?”Djokovic explains in the pre-match press conference during the “Media Day”. He arrived in London last Sunday, June 23, and since then the Serbian tennis player has been testing 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 at a high intensity, there were many situations where the knee was tested, such as changes of direction. And it’s gone very well so far.”
This explains why the former number one in the ATP ranking decided not to remove himself from the scoreboard: his debut against the Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva is scheduled for next year Tuesday 2nd July. The goal is certainly not to take a trip to London or to get through a few rounds, but to win her eighth trophy at Wimbledon to add to her record-breaking list. She would thus join Roger Federer at the top of the Championships roll of honour, reach her 25th Slam, leaving Margaret Court behind her and becoming the most successful in history among men and women, she 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 sets 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”considers Djokovic,“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 field it’s for the title”warns, “and the last three days have given me enough optimism, they have made me understand that in the coming weeks I can compete at the highest level.”
