The 24-time Major winner Novak Djokovic is preparing for his 19th Wimbledon, never missing the grass-court Major since debuting as a qualifier in 2005! Novak arrived in London following a right knee procedure in Paris, withdrawing from Roland Garros before the quarter-final and battling with time ahead of Wimbledon.
Djokovic played a match against Daniil Medvedev at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic in Hurlingham, feeling good on the court and scoring a 6-3, 6-4 triumph in 70 minutes. Novak admitted it was great to play injury-free tennis three weeks after surgery, hoping for more in the upcoming days and the beginning of the tournament.
The Serb passed the test despite not pushing at 100%, serving well and hitting the ball nicely. Novak broke Daniil three times and suffered one break in the second set, trailing 3-1 before rattling off five of the final six games to bring the victory home.
Djokovic made a convincing start, landing an ace in the first game of the encounter and holding at love. Medvedev painted a backhand winner in game two, holding at 15 and getting his name on the scoreboard.
Novak came from 15-30 in the third game and closed it with a backhand down the line winner for a 2-1 lead. The Serb stepped in on the return in the fourth game and generated break points with a touchy backhand winner at the net after drawing the Russian forward.
Daniil denied them with service winners before offering Novak the third after a loose backhand. Djokovic landed a running forehand down the line winner, clinching a break and opening a 3-1 advantage. The Serb produced another fine hold in the fifth game, painting a forehand winner and moving 4-1 in front after 13 minutes.
Medvedev missed a game point in the next one and landed a forehand drive-volley long, offering world no. 2 a break chance.
Novak Djokovic felt no pain in his knee against Daniil Medvedev in Hurlingham.
Daniil denied it with a forced error but encountered the second after a double fault.
The Russian saved it with a service winner and closed the game with a winner at the net, avoiding a massive deficit. Novak left those chances behind and clinched the seventh game with a forehand crosscourt winner that sent him 5-2 in front.
Daniil served to stay in the set in the eighth game, spraying a double fault and presenting Novak a set point. Medvedev refused it with a powerful serve and fired two more direct points to extend the battle and his chances.
Djokovic served for the opener at 5-3 and earned a set point with a powerful serve. Daniil saved it with a forehand winner before Novak converted the second with a forced error, wrapping up the first part of the match in 32 minutes.
Medvedev opened the second set with a service winner, and Djokovic responded with an ace in the next one for 1-1.
The Russian climbed back from 0-30 in the third game, closing it with a volley winner and making his only push on the return in the next one.
The Russian returned well and generated two break points with a forehand down the line winner. Novak sprayed a backhand error on the first, suffering a break at 15 and falling behind. Daniil failed to cement the lead, hitting a double fault on a game point and missing a chance to move 4-1 ahead.
Djokovic created a break point with a forehand down the line winner, and Medvedev saved it with a backhand winner. The Serb remained competitive and earned the second break chance with a forehand down the line return winner.
Daniil canceled it with a service winner but hit a double fault in the next point. The Russian painted an ace down the T line, repelling three break points but facing the fourth after a backhand mistake. Novak seized it after Daniil's forehand error, pulling the break back and reducing the deficit.
Djokovic locked the result at 3-3 with a powerful serve in game six, gaining a boost and pushing strong on the return a few minutes later.
The Serb created a break point after the Russian's forehand error and missed it after Daniil's forehand attack. Medvedev caused Djokovic's error, closing the game and remaining on the positive side. Not thinking much about that opportunity, Novak held at love in game eight with a service winner and prepared another attack on the return in the next one.
Daniil played a loose forehand and faced three break points. Djokovic converted the third after the rival's double fault, opening a crucial 5-4 advantage and serving for the victory in game ten. Novak earned three match points and converted the first with a volley winner at the net, wrapping up a solid duel and feeling no issues with his troubled knee.
Djokovic received a favorable draw at Wimbledon, earning an opportunity to take more time and rest his knee ahead of more serious rivals.
