Posted by Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday June 29, 2024
With a week of practice under his belt, and almost three weeks since surgery to repair his meniscus, Novak Djokovic he told reporters that he has never faced setbacks and is “determined” to chase another Wimbledon title.
The seven-time Wimbledon winner and 24-time Grand Slam champion defeated Daniil Medvedev in a showdown on Friday, another step in what he told reporters was a successful comeback.
Now it’s time for the Serbian juggernaut to commit 100 percent to winning Wimbledon again.
“I don’t see myself holding back,” he said. “I don’t see myself counting or being too careful in this movement. I don’t see that happening.
“Really, I’m going full in. I’m going full out. I mean, that’s how I played all my jobs. If I didn’t have the feeling that I could do that on Tuesday, I wouldn’t be talking. To you guys today I wouldn’t be on the line, that’s for sure that every day I’ve spent here only gives me positive signs and motivates me to I really thought, not just thinking, but I felt that I could do it.
Djokovic, who will face the Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in his first-round match on Tuesday on Center Court, he continued to explain why he chose to return so soon after surgery, with a busy summer of elite tennis just around the corner.
He says he could not resist the allure of Wimbledon.
“I know that the Olympics will be in a completely different place,” he said. “I know all that. But I’m thinking about Wimbledon. A dream tournament. I had to focus on all of that.
“We put a lot of hours in the last three weeks every day in rehabilitation, training, basically increasing the intensity of training and rehabilitation every day, of course we are very aware of the knee and the reaction. I have not had a setback. If I had one setback, I would have asked myself whether I should be here or not. But I never I had one. Why don’t you shoot it?”
It’s always fun playing with you my friend. And laughing. Good luck 🍀 with Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/xkyZm7LQVX
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 28, 2024
Djokovic elaborated, emphasizing his connection to Wimbledon, the tournament that inspired him when he was young and dreamed of winning major titles and holding the No.1 position.
“I can only say that it is this amazing desire to play, just to compete,” he said. “Especially because it is Wimbledon, a tournament that has always been a dream for me since I was a child. I always wanted to play Wimbledon. The thought that I missed Wimbledon was wrong. I didn’t want to deal with that.”
For the 37-year-old, the idea of challenging himself and testing his limits was also part of the draw.
“I wanted to see how quickly I could recover, and if I could really be in a position to compete against the top five on grass with the best players in the world,” he admitted. “As I said a few days ago, I did not come to play a few rounds to prove to others that I can participate in one or two matches. I really want to get to the point. So the last three days have given me enough hope.”
That time of year 🌱 It’s good to be back. Giving my best to be ready #wimbledon 🎾💪 pic.twitter.com/caop6cVYjY
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 25, 2024
Advice from Fritz, Wawrinka and Lindsey Vonn
Djokovic said he was very encouraged that Taylor Fritz was able to return from the same surgery in three weeks in 2021, after injuring himself at Roland-Garros that year. Fritz was 23 at the time, but still, Djokovic says the American’s comeback gave him hope that he could do it.
“His condition made me hope that I will succeed,” he said. “Knowing that there is someone who is a tennis player, who plays at such a high level, who has been successful in a short period of being on the court and competing, it just made me a little bit more relaxed, I think, a little bit. I feel more confident throughout my process and rehabilitation journey.”
Djokovic said he also spoke with Stan Wawrinka, a veteran of multiple knee surgeries, and astronaut Lindsay Vonn.
“Wawrinka, Lindsey Vonn, they all shared their experiences,” he said. Indeed, that gave me faith and hope that if the rehab is done well and correctly, and if, of course, the knee responds well, which is very unlikely, then there is a very good chance that I will do Wimbledon.
Since then things have been going well for the Belgrade native. He says he has never faced obstacles as he continues to improve.
“If I had a day where my knee just blew up and I got swollen and swollen, of course I would have slowed down, then my whole Wimbledon, participation this year, would have been in doubt. But that didn’t happen,” he said. “It doesn’t happen. My stamina is very high now. I played two sets, an hour and a half, with Medvedev (Friday), and an hour with [Emil] Ruusuvuori.
“I played like three and a half sets yesterday. Another set and a half today. The knee is really good.”
Next stop, first round…
