Seve-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic is ready for his first-match clash against a qualifier Vit Kopriva! Novak will kick off his 19th campaign at the All England Club on Tuesday, and he shared a strong message with his fans on Monday night.
Djokovic is ready for the first test at Wimbledon less than a month after a knee procedure, feeling confident and hoping for a good run at one of his favorite tournaments. Novak withdrew from Roland Garros after scoring four wins, feeling the pain in his right knee and undergoing surgery to fix the issue and start the recovery process.
The chances of competing at Wimbledon were low. However, Djokovic showed incredible determination and resolution, working in the gym and doing enough preparations on the practice court ahead of the third Major of the season.
Novak has yet to show his A-game in 2024, reaching three semi-finals and stepping down from the ATP throne.
The Serb arrived at Roland Garros with a troubled knee, and things got worse following two marathons on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
Djokovic embraced five-setters versus Lorenzo Musetti and Francisco Cerundolo, prevailing but worsening his knee injury and withdrawing. Novak did not like the court conditions in those matches, urging the organizers to fix the problematic parts without success.
Djokovic fell a couple of times against Cerundolo, asking for a medical timeout and risking a serious injury. After a late break, Novak lost the second set and faded from the court in the third, struggling on serve and return.
The defending champion found himself close to the exit door after trailing 4-2 in the fourth set. However, the painkillers started to work, and Novak launched his impressive comeback. Djokovic erased the deficit and stole the set, becoming the favorite ahead of the decider.
Novak Djokovic is ready to open his 19th Wimbledon campaign.
They traded early breaks, and Novak grabbed another in the closing stages, sealing the deal but withdrawing the following day.
Novak wasted no time, undergoing a knee procedure in Paris and flying home to Belgrade. Soon, the 24-time Major champion arrived in London and started preparations for Wimbledon, hoping for a good response from his body. It happened, and Djokovic entered the draw with high hopes, chasing the record-equalling eighth Wimbledon trophy.
Novak trained with various rivals in the previous days and played a competitive exhibition match against Daniil Medvedev at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic in Hurlingham. Djokovic beat his good friend 6-3, 6-4 in 70 minutes, playing well and feeling no pain!
Novak lost serve once in the second set, trailing 3-1 before launching his comeback. The Serb broke the Russian three times, controlling the pace and moving over the top.
Djokovic held at love in the first game of the duel with an ace before Medvedev responded with a backhand winner in game two for a hold at 15 and 1-1.
The Serb landed a backhand down the line winner in the third game, moving 2-1 in front and making a push on the return in the next one. Novak hit a backhand winner at the net for two break points, and Daniil saved them with powerful serves.
The Serb generated the third break chance and seized it with a running forehand down the line winner, forging a 3-1 advantage and gaining a boost. Novak closed the fifth game with a forehand winner, cementing the break and building a solid advantage after 13 minutes.
Medvedev struggled behind the initial shot again in the sixth game, placing a forehand drive-volley long and facing two break points. The Russian saved them and held with a winner at the net, avoiding falling two breaks behind.
Novak opened a 5-2 gap with a forehand winner and earned a set point in the next one after Daniil's double fault. Medvedev got out of jail with three winners, extending the set before Djokovic closed it with a fine hold in game nine for 6-3 after 32 minutes.
They served well early in the second set before Medvedev created two break points in game four with a forehand down the line winner. Novak hit a backhand error on the first, losing serve and falling behind. Daniil hit a double fault on a game point in the next game and faced four break points.
He denied the first three with winners before Novak seized the fourth after the rival's forehand mistake. Djokovic held for 3-3 and made another push on the return in the next one. Medvedev saved a break point and brought the game home, staying on the positive side.
Novak grabbed the eighth game at love with a powerful serve and stepped in on the return in the next one. The Serb generated three break points and seized the third after the Russian's double fault, moving 5-4 in front and serving for the win. Djokovic held at love in game ten with a volley winner, sealing the deal and hoping for more of the same at Wimbledon.
