By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, July 14, 2024
Picture credit score: Rob Newell/CameraSport
Wimbledon—Novak Djokovic isn’t accustomed to life as a center man.
Wedged between Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner within the rankings, Djokovic concedes he’s not on the lofty stage of his fellow reigning main champions proper now.
Extra: Alcaraz Dismisses Djokovic to Defend Wimbledon
Within the aftermath of his 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) loss to defending champion Alcaraz within the Wimbledon closing right this moment, Djokovic stated he’s simply not so good as the younger elites.
The Grand Slam king stated his need is deep—and he hopes to raise his stage for this month’s Paris Olympics and subsequent month’s US Open.
“The Olympic Video games and US Open are the 2 massive objectives for the remainder of the yr for me actually. I am hoping I could be at my greatest on these two tournaments,” Djokovic stated. “That is all I can say proper now. I imply, with the ability to attain the finals of Wimbledon, after all, it is an awesome confidence increase.
“However I additionally really feel like in a matchup right this moment towards greatest participant proper now on the earth for positive, I imply, aside from Jannik, and each of them are the very best this yr by far, I really feel like I am not at that stage.”
Stats help that feeling: Djokovic has not defeated a High 10 opponent since his 6-3, 6-3 sweep of Sinner within the ATP Finals title match in Turin final November.
The 37-year-old Serbian celebrity has spent a part of his profession overcoming adversity knee surgical procedure is the most recent hurdle he’s cleared.
Coming off arthroscopic surgical procedure to restore his torn medial meniscus in his proper knee on Wednesday, June fifth in Paris, the second-seeded Serbian confirmed supreme dedication simply to battle into his tenth Wimbledon closing.
Seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic stated he has a easy purpose for the remainder of the season. Depend on resilience, strengthen his surgically-repaired proper now and settle for the actual fact he have to be higher to defeat Alcaraz and Sinner.
“To be able to actually have an opportunity to, I assume, beat these guys in Grand Slam latter levels or Olympics, I’ll should play significantly better than I did right this moment and really feel significantly better than I did right this moment,” Djokovic stated. “I’ll work on it. It isn’t one thing I have not skilled earlier than ever in my life. I’ve had so many alternative experiences all through my profession. Within the face of adversity, usually I rise and I study and get stronger. That is what I’ll do.”
Although the second-ranked Djokovic stated he felt stronger because the match progressed, he admits he was “half a step behind” Alcaraz in each aspect of the sport.
“Yeah, that in all probability had an impact, significantly within the opening rounds. However because the match progressed, I felt higher and higher. I reached the finals,” Djokovic stated. “Some matches I performed some actually good tennis. Some matches I type of battled my means by way of.
“However yeah, right this moment I noticed that I used to be simply, as I stated, half a step behind him in each sense. That is the fact that I’ve to simply accept for the time being. Hopefully issues could be completely different subsequent time I play him.”
The query is: Can the person within the center shut the hole on rivals 15 years youthful?
To that finish, you can also make a case it’s a lot wiser for Djokovic to skip Paris and equipment up for his US Open title protection. In spite of everything, the final time he performed Roland Garros’ crimson clay, he was present process knee surgical procedure a few days later.
As of now, Djokovic, who has stated previously successful an Olympic gold medal for Serbia is a driving power, plans to play Paris.
“I nonetheless have intentions to play Olympic Video games, hopefully have an opportunity to struggle for a medal for my nation,” Djokovic stated. “On a totally completely different floor clearly, going again to the place the place I acquired injured some weeks in the past. Let’s have a look at. Let’s have a look at how bodily and mentally I’ll really feel. Hopefully I can discover the precise tennis ‘trigger I’ll want all I’ve and extra to go to the ultimate of the Olympic Video games.”
As for his SW19 future, Djokovic asserts he can be again subsequent yr.
Main a tennis life with out limits, Djokovic goals to push the age boundaries.
“So far as coming again right here, I imply, I might like to,” Djokovic stated. “I haven’t got anything in my ideas proper now that that is my final Wimbledon. I actually wish to play at the very least no matter. I do not know. I haven’t got any limitations in my thoughts. I nonetheless wish to hold going and play so long as I really feel like I can play on this excessive stage.”
