Missing Wimbledon would not have been ‘correct’, says Novak Djokovic – Times of India

Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis star, expressed his strong conviction to participate in Wimbledon, despite having undergone knee surgery a mere three weeks prior to the tournament. The 37-year-old emphasized that skipping the prestigious event would not have been the right decision.

Djokovic, who is on a quest to match Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles and become the oldest champion in the modern era, attributed his participation to his “incredible desire to play and compete”.

The injury occurred during the French Open earlier this month, where Djokovic was compelled to withdraw before his quarter-final match. He subsequently underwent surgery to repair the damaged meniscus in his right knee and has not competed since then.

“I do have something that is described as a feeling of not missing out at a Grand Slam while I can still play and while I’m still active and at this level,” AFP quoted Djokovic as saying.

“I wouldn’t call it a fear of missing out. I would just say it’s this incredible desire to play, just to compete.

“Particularly because it is Wimbledon, the tournament that always has been a dream tournament for me when I was a kid. Just the thought of me missing Wimbledon was just not correct. I didn’t want to deal with that.”

Djokovic finds himself in an unfamiliar position as he sets foot in London for the upcoming tournament. The Serbian player, known for his dominance on the court, has yet to secure a title in the current season.

In a surprising turn of events, the young Italian sensation, Jannik Sinner, not only claimed Djokovic’s Australian Open title but also dethroned him from the world number one spot. At just 22 years of age, Sinner has emerged as a formidable force in the tennis world.

To add to Djokovic’s challenges, Carlos Alcaraz, who had previously ended the Serbian’s reign at Wimbledon last year, has now achieved another significant milestone. The rising star from Spain recently clinched the French Open title, further solidifying his position as a top contender in the sport.

“I’m confident about the health of my knee and just the general physical state is really good,” said the Serb who is chasing a 25th Grand Slam title.

“I haven’t had any setbacks. If I had one setback, I would be questioning whether I should be here or not. But I haven’t had a single one. Why not give it a shot?”

Alcaraz, the young Spanish tennis sensation, has expressed his admiration for Novak Djokovic’s remarkable recovery just over three weeks following his knee surgery. Alcaraz referred to the Serbian star as “superhuman” on Saturday, acknowledging his incredible resilience and determination.

However, Djokovic revealed that his inspiration came from another player, American Taylor Fritz, who underwent a similar knee operation in 2021. Fritz sustained his injury during the French Open and required assistance from a wheelchair to leave the court.

Remarkably, Fritz made a swift comeback, returning to action at Wimbledon a mere 21 days after his surgery. Despite the short recovery time, he managed to reach the third round of the prestigious tournament, showcasing his tenacity and dedication to the sport.

“I think Taylor Fritz is a superhuman,” insisted Djokovic.

“His situation really gave me optimism that I can make it, too.

“Three weeks is just making the cut, so to say. It’s not ideal, maybe in the eyes of the doctors and specialists that would normally tell you it’s normally between three and six weeks.

“But it’s also individual. It’s very subjective. Everyone has a different response to the recovery.”