Greg Rusedski has suggested Novak Djokovic could be considered 'joint-favourite' for the Wimbledon title alongside defending champion Jannik Sinner, boosting the Serbian's hopes of equalling Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon crowns.
Djokovic's Path to a 25th Grand Slam
Djokovic, 39, is bidding to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam at the All England Club. He has not added to his Grand Slam tally since 2023 but began his Wimbledon 2026 campaign with a hard-fought win over China's Wu Yibing. Rusedski, a former British number one, believes Djokovic's experience and grass-court prowess make him a serious threat.
'Novak Djokovic is my second-pick for the Wimbledon title,' Rusedski said on the Off Court podcast. 'People are comparing him with Serena Williams in a way because of their age and status but you can't compare him to Serena. He's been playing all year and he's still a full-time professional.'
Alcaraz Injury Shifts Dynamics
World number one Sinner overcame a scare in his opening match, beating Miomir Kecmanovic in five sets after twice trailing. The Italian defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the 2025 final, but Alcaraz has been ruled out of this year's tournament due to injury, removing a major obstacle for Djokovic.
'Let's not forget he beat Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open, nobody thought he was going to win that match, and he got off to a brilliant start against Carlos Alcaraz in the final before Alcaraz put the accelerator on,' Rusedski added. 'With Alcaraz being out, Djokovic has only got to beat one of the big two and he will think, this is my best chance to win number 25.'
Rusedski's Joint-Favourite Claim
Rusedski highlighted Djokovic's adaptability on grass and the potential impact of hot weather conditions. 'If Djokovic gets to 25 it's a bit like Rafael Nadal and his 14 French Open titles. It's a number that's never been hit before and would be truly remarkable,' he said. 'Look at Djokovic on grass as well, he doesn't need any warm-ups. He got enough tennis in Paris and he's playing well enough. For me, he might even be joint-favourite because of the heat. If it's super hot like it has been in the UK, Djokovic is definitely one of the best grass-court players on the planet. Don't discount Djokovic. For me, he's the second favourite to win the title and his best chance to win number 25.'
Djokovic will face former Australian Open and French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round, while Sinner takes on Nuno Borges. Other contenders include new French Open champion Alexander Zverev and former US Open finalist Taylor Fritz.
