“My knee responded well, I haven’t had any relapses. So why not give me a chance?” Novak Djokovic explained his decision to take to the court at Wimbledon three weeks after surgery on the meniscus in his right knee in the classic pre-match press conference during Media Day.
“I arrived on Sunday. It was a very good week of training. 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 – he said -. We played with high intensity, there were many situations in which the knee was put to the test, such as changes of direction. And it has gone very well so far.”
For this reason, Djokovic chose not to cancel himself from the scoreboard and to take to the court for the first round against the Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva on Tuesday. He’s not at Wimbledon just to get through a round or two, he said on the eve of the tournament. Djokovic goes on the court for records, for history. To win the 25th major, and overtake Margaret Court as the most successful ever in the Slams between men and women; to win his eighth Wimbledon and equal Roger Federer in the Championships’ roll of honour; to become the oldest champion in the Open Era and the first to triumph at Wimbledon more than once after turning 35.
“Of course when the tournament starts, I will have more sensations and more feedback on how the knee will react in best-of-five sets matches” explained Wimbledon, who has had the opportunity to speak with Taylor Fritz in recent weeks. The American, in fact, suffered a similar problem at Roland Garros three years ago. “He told me that 21 days later he was on the court at Wimbledon – said Djokovic -. Also Stan Wawrinka and [la leggenda dello sci alpino] Lindsay Vonn 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.”
In his constant search for the best, the maximum, Djokovic is moved, he explained, “by an incredible desire to play, simply to compete. Especially here at Wimbledon, a dream tournament since I was a child. If I go out on the court it’s for the title. 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”.
LIVE SCORE
GAME ORDER
MALE SINGULAR
SINGULAR FEMALE
MEN’S DOUBLES
WOMEN’S DOUBLES
MEN’S QUALIFICATIONS
WOMEN QUALIFYING
2024-06-30 00:58:25
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