Novak Djokovic, having advanced to the third round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships, candidly expressed that he is still grappling with his form due to lingering issues with his recently operated knee.
Despite his victory over wildcard Jacob Fearnley in the second round, the World No. 2 acknowledged that he is not yet performing at his desired level.
Djokovic’s match against Fearnley on July 4 was a hard-fought contest, lasting four sets. The Serbian star managed to secure a 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5 win, breaking Fearnley’s serve four times while being broken twice himself. This victory, though, did not come easily, as Djokovic’s movement on the court was visibly hampered by his knee, which he injured during the French Open and subsequently had surgery on.
In a post-match interview, Djokovic admitted:
“It’s not yet there where I want it to be. Kind of late on the balls that I’m normally not late on. That’s the part which I guess comes with matches. So, the longer I stay in the tournament, I think the better the chances that my movement will improve.”
Looking ahead to his third-round match against Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, Djokovic maintained a positive outlook, expressing confidence in his ability to compete despite the physical setbacks.
“The earlier rounds is where I’m still a little bit rusty on the movement, I think. That’s what I felt today, at least. But yeah, I don’t worry about reinjuring my knee. I don’t have time nor energy to think about it, nor do I think it’s worth it. I wouldn’t be here unless I think that, not just myself, but the whole team, that I’m ready to compete at this level,” he stated.
Djokovic also reflected on the natural challenges of returning to high-level competition so soon after surgery. He remarked:
“In a way, it’s expected and normal when you come back from surgery, the body’s trying to understand what’s going on. Very early after surgery, already competing at the highest level on a surface that is, again, slippery. Kind of have to be careful with the way you move at times.”
Scheduled to face Popyrin on July 6, Djokovic holds a 2-0 lead in their head-to-head encounters, with their last meeting resulting in a 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory for Djokovic at the Australian Open earlier this year.
The winner of their upcoming match will go on to face either 15th seed Holger Rune or French qualifier Quentin Halys in the fourth round of Wimbledon 2024.
