Novak Djokovic begins his Wimbledon campaign on Monday against Wu Yibing of China, aiming for a 25th singles grand slam title. The seven-time champion, now 39, draws inspiration from Serena Williams, who is making a comeback at age 44.
Djokovic praises Williams' return
Djokovic described Williams' efforts as 'inspirational and epic.' He said, 'I always admired her career, her journey, her story. For her to come back after years of being absent from the tour, two children later, and to give so much effort ... is remarkable.' He noted seeing her in the gym more than during her prime, adding, 'It tells me that she really wants this to work out the best way possible.'
Djokovic's preparation and fitness
Despite his pedigree, Djokovic enters Wimbledon as second favourite behind defending champion Jannik Sinner. He has played only three events and seven matches since the Australian Open final in January, where he reached the final. A shoulder injury caused him to miss most of the clay-court season. At Roland Garros, he lost in the third round to João Fonseca in five sets, a match lasting nearly four hours.
'Roland Garros was physically very draining, demanding,' Djokovic said. 'I was planning to peak at Wimbledon. Not having any official matches going into Roland Garros was going to be quite difficult. But I knew that's going to give me a bit more time to get myself prepared for Wimbledon.'
Path to the title
Djokovic begins against Wu Yibing, who is back inside the world's top 100 after injury struggles. In the same half as Sinner, Djokovic may need to beat the Italian to claim his eighth Wimbledon title, tying Roger Federer's record. He showed in Melbourne that when his body holds up, he remains capable.
The carrot of a 25th grand slam title keeps Djokovic working hard, but on grass, less match practice has often been more. Since 2010, he has played a warm-up event only three times, preferring exhibition matches and practice at the All England Club.
Confidence on grass
'I'm better prepared here than I was for Roland Garros,' Djokovic said. 'Playing on grass doesn't require as much physical effort. I always loved playing on grass. I have a very good history in Wimbledon. That gives me a higher dose of confidence coming into the tournament.'
