Djokovic passes final test for Wimbledon: “It’s a victory”

After days of insinuations, doubts and uncertainties, Novak Djokovic He has proven that he is ready for high competition. The Serbian lost Daniel Medvedev in the Hurlingham exhibition (6-3 and 6-4) and will come to Wimbledon with all guarantees. “I played without pain,” he said.

The one from Belgrade, who underwent meniscus surgery on his right knee 23 days ago, took the final step on Friday to land at Wimbledon, playing his first full match since losing to Francisco Cerúndolo in the round of 16 at Roland Garros a little more. more than three weeks.

Djokovic He injured his meniscus in that match and, after undergoing emergency surgery in Paris, began a race against time that ended this Friday, when it could be said with certainty that he was at Wimbledon and that there was nothing to suggest that he is not one of the favorites.

The current number two in the world has increased the intensity of training these days, first working out with Federico Coria, that he only played ‘tie breaks’, not sets, later Frances Tiafoewhom he beat in a complete set, and, after a day off to see Serbia in the Euro Cup, with Jannik Sinner, against whom he played one set and part of another.

The definitive test appears, almost by surprise, because he announced it only a few hours before, at the Hurlingham exhibition, where he has played in the past, to face Medvedev, whom he defeated without much effort.

Djokovic won the first set where he served well, winning 88% of his second serves, and, despite starting the second set 1-3 down, took five of the last six game to seal his first and only victory on grass before his Wimbledon debut next Tuesday.

The Serbian will have an extra day off because he fell to the bottom of the table, while the Spaniard Carlos Alcarazcurrently the defending champion and in charge of opening center court action, is on top.

After the match, and despite playing with a knee brace, the Serbian confirmed that he was pain free.

“What I can tell you is that I really enjoyed it today,” he told the interviewer at Hurlingham.

“I played without pain. It’s a big test to be with the best in the world. I’ve trained hard the last few days. I want to go out today, test my knee, move and bend to the punches. The test is a victory, it’s it’s been great,” he said.

“It has been a very intense three weeks, training hard to have a chance to be in London. My surgeon is here (points to the audience). It’s his fault. Without him it would be impossible for me to be here. Now I want to go every day to see how far I can go,” he added.

Furthermore, Djokovic said that his inspiration for trying to reach Wimbledon was Taylor Fritz who suffered the same problem as him three years ago and was able to play in London, where he reached the third round, playing four and five set matches.

“I had four or five days left. He was the first person I wrote to and he very generously told me how it was. I wrote to him and the other athletes, in Ibrahimovic, Lindsey Vonn, Stan Wawrinka… It’s all been great sharing contacts that can help me,” added the 24-time Grand Slam champion.