By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Saturday June 29, 2024
With per week of apply underneath his belt, and simply barely over three weeks since he underwent a surgical procedure to restore his meniscus, Novak Djokovic instructed reporters he has not suffered a setback and is “all-in” on chasing down one other Wimbledon title.
The seven-time Wimbledon and 24-time Grand Slam champion defeated Daniil Medvedev in an exhibition on Friday, one other step in what he instructed reporters has been a really easy comeback.
Now it’s time for the Serbian juggernaut to commit 100% to successful Wimbledon as soon as once more.
“I do not see myself holding again,” he mentioned. “I do not see myself calculating or being a bit extra cautious within the motion. I do not see that taking place.
“Actually, I’m going all in. I’m going full out. I imply, that is the way in which I have been taking part in my complete profession. If I haven’t got the sensation that I can try this on Tuesday, I would not be talking to you guys at this time. I would not be within the draw, that is for positive. All the times that I’ve spent right here give me solely constructive indicators and encourage me to actually suppose, not simply suppose, however really feel that I can do it.”
Djokovic, who will face Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in his first-round match on Tuesday in Centre Court docket, went on to clarify why he selected to return so rapidly after surgical procedure, when a crowded summer time of elite tennis is across the nook.
He says that he couldn’t resist the attract of Wimbledon.
“I do know that Olympics are proper after that on a very completely different floor,” he mentioned. “I do know all of that. However I am occupied with Wimbledon. It is a dream event. I wanted to focus all my consideration on that.
“We put an enormous quantity of hours within the final three weeks each day into rehab, into workouts, mainly elevating the extent of depth of coaching and rehab each single day, in fact being very cautious of the knee and the reactions. I have never had any setback. If I had one setback, I might be then questioning whether or not I needs to be right here or not. However I have never had a single one. Why not give it a shot?”
All the time a pleasure taking part in with you my good friend. And having some laughs. Good luck 🍀 for Wimbledon. pic.twitter.com/xkyZm7LQVX
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 28, 2024
Djokovic elaborated additional, stressing his reference to Wimbledon, the event that impressed him when he was a younger baby dreaming of successful main titles and holding the No.1 rating.
“I might simply say it is this unbelievable want to play, simply to compete,” he mentioned. “Notably as a result of it’s Wimbledon, the event that at all times has been a dream event for me once I was a child. I at all times dreamed of taking part in Wimbledon. Simply the considered me lacking Wimbledon was simply not appropriate. I did not need to cope with that.”
For the 37-year-old, the thought of difficult himself and testing his limits was additionally a part of the pull.
“I wished to see how briskly I can actually recuperate, and may I actually be in a situation to compete best-of-five on grass with finest gamers on this planet,” he admitted. “As I mentioned just a few days in the past, I did not come right here to play just a few rounds and show to myself and others that I can really compete in a single or two matches. I actually need to go for the title. So the final three days have given me sufficient optimism.”
That point of yr 🌱 Good to be again. Giving my finest to be prepared for #wimbledon 🎾💪 pic.twitter.com/caop6cVYjY
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 25, 2024
Recommendation from Fritz, Wawrinka and Lindsey Vonn
Djokovic mentioned he took explicit inspiration from the truth that Taylor Fritz was in a position to return from an identical surgical procedure in three weeks in 2021, after he injured himself at Roland-Garros that yr. Fritz was 23 on the time, however nonetheless, Djokovic says the American’s bounce-back gave him hope that he may do it.
“His scenario actually gave me optimism that I could make it, too,” he mentioned. “Realizing that there was somebody who’s a tennis participant, performs on such a excessive stage, already succeeded in such a brief period of time to be on the courtroom and compete, it simply made me a bit extra relaxed, I suppose, a bit extra assured in my complete course of and journey of rehabilitation.”
Djokovic mentioned he additionally spoke with Stan Wawrinka, a veteran of a number of knee surgical procedures, and skier Lindsay Vonn.
“Wawrinka, Lindsey Vonn, all of them shared their experiences,” he mentioned. Actually, that gave me religion and optimism that if rehab is completed proper and proper, and if, in fact, the knee responds nicely, which is one thing that may be very unpredictable, then there’s a fairly good probability that I am going to make Wimbledon.
Since then it has been comparatively easy crusing for the Belgrade native. He says he hasn’t suffered a setback as he has continued to progress.
“If I had a day the place my knee simply flares up and I’ve swelling and irritation, in fact I might be slowing down, then my complete Wimbledon, this yr’s participation, could be doubtful. However that did not occur,” he mentioned. “It is not taking place. My depth may be very excessive now. I performed two units, an hour and a half, with Medvedev (On Friday), then an hour with [Emil] Ruusuvuori.
“I performed like three and a half units yesterday. One other set and a half at this time. The knee is de facto positive.”
Subsequent cease, spherical one…
