Djokovic takes decision against Tiafoe and refines for Wimbledon

In his first and last match to prepare for Wimbledon, Novak Djokovicwho has not competed since the Roland Garros final, defeated the American Frances Tiafoe (6-3, 3-6 and 10-7) in the exhibition of hurlingham.

Djokovic, who has been training for a few days at the All England Club, had a busy day on Tuesday that ended with a win over the American. He first trained at Aorangi Park, within Wimbledon’s facilities, in a doubles session with Italian Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic and Sinner worked out on court 2 before changing into their clothes, wearing all white and inaugurating Center Court, with a practice set that lasted about 45 minutes. After that, he went to the Hurlingham club to play a friendly match against Tiafoe.

In a whirlwind start, in which he was up 4-1 and two points away from 5-1, Djokovic took an easy lead against Tiafoe, who went from less to more and fought the second set to at the point of defeat. away and force a decisive ‘tie break’, where after some comings and goings, it was Djokovic who decided.

It was Djokovic’s only match on grass this season and his first since lifting his 23rd Grand Slam title in Paris. The Serbian took advantage of the break after Roland Garros to celebrate his birthday with his wife in Portugal and then continue his preparations in Montenegro, before traveling to London, where he has won the title in the last four editions.

This year, he will look to equal Roger Federer’s eight titles in the capital, taking his Grand Slam conquests to 24, two more than Rafael Nadal.

In the other game of the day at Hurlingham, British number one Cameron Norrie defeated Serbian Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-2. Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz was supposed to play two games in this event, against Holger Rune and against Dominic Thiem, but he canceled them to recover from some discomfort in the abductor muscle of his right leg.