By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, July 14, 2024Photo credit score: Rob Newell/CameraSport
Wimbledon—Novak Djokovic isn’t accustomed to life as a center man.
Wedged between Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner within the rankings, Djokovic concedes he’s not on the lofty stage of his fellow reigning main champions proper now.
Extra: Alcaraz Dismisses Djokovic to Defend Wimbledon
Within the aftermath of his 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) loss to defending champion Alcaraz within the Wimbledon ultimate right this moment, Djokovic mentioned he’s simply not so good as the younger elites.
The Grand Slam king mentioned his need is deep—and he hopes to raise his stage for this month’s Paris Olympics and subsequent month’s US Open.
“The Olympic Video games and US Open are the 2 large objectives for the remainder of the 12 months for me actually. I am hoping I will be at my finest on these two tournaments,” Djokovic mentioned. “That is all I can say proper now. I imply, having the ability to attain the finals of Wimbledon, after all, it is an ideal confidence enhance.
“However I additionally really feel like in a matchup right this moment towards finest participant proper now on the planet for certain, I imply, aside from Jannik, and each of them are one of the best this 12 months by far, I really feel like I am not at that stage.”
Stats help that feeling: Djokovic has not defeated a High 10 opponent since his 6-3, 6-3 sweep of Sinner within the ATP Finals title match in Turin final November.
The 37-year-old Serbian famous person has spent a part of his profession overcoming adversity knee surgical procedure is the most recent hurdle he’s cleared.
Coming off arthroscopic surgical procedure to restore his torn medial meniscus in his proper knee on Wednesday, June fifth in Paris, the second-seeded Serbian confirmed supreme willpower simply to battle into his tenth Wimbledon ultimate.
Seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic mentioned he has a easy purpose for the remainder of the season. Depend on resilience, strengthen his surgically-repaired proper now and settle for the actual fact he have to be higher to defeat Alcaraz and Sinner.
“With the intention to actually have an opportunity to, I assume, beat these guys in Grand Slam latter phases or Olympics, I’ll need to play a lot better than I did right this moment and really feel a lot better than I did right this moment,” Djokovic mentioned. “I’ll work on it. It isn’t one thing I have never skilled earlier than ever in my life. I’ve had so many alternative experiences all through my profession. Within the face of adversity, usually I rise and I study and get stronger. That is what I’ll do.”
Although the second-ranked Djokovic mentioned he felt stronger because the event progressed, he admits he was “half a step behind” Alcaraz in each side of the sport.
“Yeah, that most likely had an impact, significantly within the opening rounds. However because the event progressed, I felt higher and higher. I reached the finals,” Djokovic mentioned. “Some matches I performed some actually good tennis. Some matches I type of battled my manner by means of.
“However yeah, right this moment I noticed that I used to be simply, as I mentioned, half a step behind him in each sense. That is the truth that I’ve to simply accept for the time being. Hopefully issues will be completely different subsequent time I play him.”
The query is: Can the person within the center shut the hole on rivals 15 years youthful?
To that finish, you can also make a case it’s a lot wiser for Djokovic to skip Paris and equipment up for his US Open title protection. In any case, the final time he performed Roland Garros’ purple clay, he was present process knee surgical procedure a few days later.
As of now, Djokovic, who has mentioned up to now successful an Olympic gold medal for Serbia is a driving drive, plans to play Paris.
“I nonetheless have intentions to play Olympic Video games, hopefully have an opportunity to combat for a medal for my nation,” Djokovic mentioned. “On a totally completely different floor clearly, going again to the place the place I bought injured some weeks in the past. Let’s examine. Let’s examine how bodily and mentally I’ll really feel. Hopefully I can discover the best tennis ‘trigger I’ll want all I’ve and extra to go to the ultimate of the Olympic Video games.”
As for his SW19 future, Djokovic asserts he will likely be again subsequent 12 months.
Main a tennis life with out limits, Djokovic goals to push the age boundaries.
“So far as coming again right here, I imply, I might like to,” Djokovic mentioned. “I haven’t got the rest in my ideas proper now that that is my final Wimbledon. I actually wish to play at the very least no matter. I do not know. I haven’t got any limitations in my thoughts. I nonetheless wish to hold going and play so long as I really feel like I can play on this excessive stage.”
