WIMBLEDON.- The Serbian Novak Djokovicseven-time champion of Wimbledonassured this Saturday that he arrives at the London tournament, which begins on Monday, “better prepared” than at Roland Garrosafter falling in the third round in Paris.
“Roland Garros was very physically demanding. I played three matches and they all lasted around four hours (except the first, which I won in less than three),” highlighted the 39-year-old Serbian, who has been pursuing a historic twenty-fifth Grand Slam title since 2023.
“But I’m proud of my effort. I lost in the third round against an opponent under twenty years old (the Brazilian Joao Fonseca27th in the world) and I fought until the end,” he said.
Djokovic currently occupies eighth place in the ranking ATP.
After his injury to his right shoulder, which kept him away from the circuit between Indian Wells Masters 1000in USAwhere they fell in the round of 16 at the beginning of March, and the Rome Masters 1000 (second round), at the beginning of May, “the plan was, in any case, to arrive at Wimbledon at my best,” explained the Serbian, finalist of the Australian Open at the beginning of the year.
“I knew that, after having played very few official matches before playing Roland Garros, it would be quite difficult to go far in Paris. And so it was,” insisted Djokovic, who will debut on Monday at Wimbledon against the Chinese Wu Yibing (99th in the world).
However, that early elimination “gave me a little more time to prepare for Wimbledon,” said the Serbian, semi-finalist of the London Grand Slam last year, positively assessed.
“Compared to clay, playing on grass requires less physical effort and that benefits me,” explained Djokovic, who has only played four tournaments this season.
Sabalenka does not think about the ranking
The Belarusian tennis player Aryna Sabalenkanumber one in the world rankings, whose dominance is threatened by the Kazakh Elena Rybakinahe assured this Saturday in Londonbefore the start on Monday of the tournament Wimbledonwho does not think about the ranking.
“At this point in my career, the truth is that I’m not too worried about the ranking,” added the winner of four Grand Slams and world number one since 2024.
At Wimbledon, a tournament where the 28-year-old Belarusian has never reached the final, while Rybakina was proclaimed champion in 2022, Sabalenka stated that she is going to focus on herself.
“What she does here is her business,” he commented in reference to the Kazakh, who has not yet occupied the position of number one in the world.
