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 remaining 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 huge targets for the remainder of the yr for me actually. I am hoping I might 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 amazing confidence increase.
“However I additionally really feel like in a matchup right this moment in opposition to finest participant proper now on the earth for positive, I imply, apart from Jannik, and each of them are the most effective this yr by far, I really feel like I am not at that stage.”
Stats assist that feeling: Djokovic has not defeated a Prime 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 celebrity has spent a part of his profession overcoming adversity knee surgical procedure is the newest 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 dedication simply to battle into his tenth Wimbledon remaining.
Seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic mentioned he has a easy aim for the remainder of the season. Depend on resilience, strengthen his surgically-repaired proper now and settle for the actual fact he should be higher to defeat Alcaraz and Sinner.
“With a view to actually have an opportunity to, I suppose, beat these guys in Grand Slam latter levels or Olympics, I’ll need to play significantly better than I did right this moment and really feel significantly better than I did right this moment,” Djokovic mentioned. “I’ll work on it. It is not one thing I have never skilled earlier than ever in my life. I’ve had so many various 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 aspect of the sport.
“Yeah, that in all probability 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 way 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 in the mean time. Hopefully issues might 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 may make a case it’s a lot wiser for Djokovic to skip Paris and kit up for his US Open title protection. In spite of everything, 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 power, 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 very completely different floor clearly, going again to the place the place I obtained 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 proper 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 probably be again subsequent yr.
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 anything in my ideas proper now that that is my final Wimbledon. I actually wish to play no less than no matter. I do not know. I haven’t got any limitations in my thoughts. I nonetheless wish to maintain going and play so long as I really feel like I can play on this excessive stage.”
