SIX HUNDRED AND sixty-two days have handed since Novak Djokovic final gained a significant title.
That day, in September 2023, was a history-clinching efficiency on the US Open, wherein he defeated Daniil Medvedev to tie Margaret Courtroom’s long-standing file for probably the most Grand Slam singles titles of all time with 24.
It appeared all however sure that Djokovic would ultimately declare the outright file.
Since then, Rafael Nadal, his biggest rival, has retired from the game, leaving Djokovic because the lone remaining member of the Massive Three. (Roger Federer, the opposite member, retired in 2022.) The now 38-year-old Djokovic has reached a Wimbledon remaining, made three different main semifinals and even gained Olympic gold, however the coveted file stays elusive. After dropping to Jannik Sinner within the semifinals on the French Open final month, he was emotional as he walked off the court docket. He later instructed reporters it “may have been the final match ever” he would play on the match and hinted at his personal retirement.
Even with out mentioning his inevitable finish within the sport, there already was a looming query mark over each main he performed. However by making it clear that he knew it too, there’s virtually a countdown clock on his dream and his probability to safe tennis immortality. And now at Wimbledon, an occasion wherein he has gained seven instances, a lot of these across the recreation have publicly speculated that this fortnight is his finest — and maybe remaining — alternative to win main title No. 25.
Now into the third spherical after clinically defeating Dan Evans, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0 on Thursday, and after trying largely dominant in his first two matches, the No. 6-seeded Djokovic’s play has supported this declare. And he hasn’t hidden that he is aware of it too.
“Whether or not it might be my final dance, I am undecided, as I am undecided about Roland Garros or every other Slam that I play subsequent,” Djokovic stated throughout his information convention earlier than the match acquired underway.
He added he needed to maintain taking part in, however admitted he was uncertain he would have the ability to.
“And sure, I’d in all probability agree that Wimbledon might be the perfect probability due to the outcomes I [have] had, due to how I really feel, how I play in Wimbledon, simply getting that further push mentally and motivation to, yeah, carry out the perfect tennis on the highest stage.”
For now, 5 matches — and doubtlessly his two greatest rivals of the second in Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz — stand in his manner. If he had been to do it, he would develop into the oldest participant within the Open period to win a Slam, and he would match Roger Federer for probably the most males’s singles titles on the All England Membership. Twenty years after making his debut on the match, a lot is in his favor and the stakes are increased than ever. Can he do it?
TO BE CLEAR, Djokovic doesn’t need to win one other match to safe his spot among the many sport’s biggest.
His résumé already speaks for itself. He has extra main titles than any man in historical past and has spent an ATP file of 428 weeks ranked at No. 1, together with holding the year-end distinction eight instances. He has 40 Masters-1000 titles and 100 ATP trophies total, gained the ATP Finals crown seven instances, has two Olympic medals, together with a much-desired gold he secured final summer time in Paris, and the checklist goes on and on. For a lot of, Djokovic firmly cemented his standing as the perfect ever after the victory in New York two years in the past.
“There’ll all the time be watercooler debates, however it will be powerful, and rather more tough, for anybody to argue in every other path outdoors of Novak being the best of all time with him at 24,” James Blake, the previous world No. 4 and present analyst, instructed ESPN on the time.
However even when others did not want any extra convincing, Djokovic made it clear he needed to proceed taking part in and successful as many titles as attainable. After he completed the 2023 season with one other ATP Finals title and the year-end high rating, he instructed reporters he had even loftier targets for 2024.
“Nicely, you’ll be able to win 4 Slams and an Olympic gold,” Djokovic stated. “I’ve all the time the best ambitions and targets. That is not going to be totally different for the subsequent 12 months … Motivation, particularly for the largest tournaments in sport, remains to be current. It nonetheless conjures up me to maintain going.”
In fact, destiny — and Sinner and Alcaraz — had different concepts. Djokovic misplaced to Sinner within the semifinals on the 2024 Australian Open and needed to withdraw forward of the quarterfinals on the French Open to bear surgical procedure for a torn medial meniscus in his proper knee. He returned to Wimbledon and even made the ultimate — his sixth in a row — however misplaced, for the second consecutive 12 months, to Alcaraz. He achieved his lifelong dream of successful Olympic gold with an electrical victory over Alcaraz after which was shocked within the third spherical of the US Open by Alexei Popyrin.
Djokovic seemed to be in near-peak kind on the Australian Open in January, beating Alcaraz in 4 units within the quarterfinals, after which needed to retire after the opening set of his semifinal on account of a hamstring harm. All through his struggles, Djokovic has spoken overtly about his waning motivation and the way tough it has been to proceed with Nadal, Federer and Andy Murray now not on tour.
Since Djokovic’s victory on the US Open, Sinner, 23, and Alcaraz, 22, have mixed to win each main. Djokovic has had some success over the previous 12 months in opposition to Alcaraz, however he has been winless in all three conferences in opposition to Sinner for the reason that begin of 2024.
The duo has established themselves because the New Massive Two, with Djokovic on the surface, trying to pull off the upset — very like he was earlier in his profession in opposition to the then-more established Federer and Nadal. However Djokovic stated that mattered little to him and his strategy coming into majors.
“In a way you are all the time searching since you’re all the time going for the titles — in my additionally privileged place — the information and extra historical past,” Djokovic stated on Saturday. “I do really feel that I am all the time in that place of going for one thing with the angle of attempting to win slightly than attempting to defend … I’d say it is barely totally different for me now by way of, I do not chase the rankings anymore in that regard, [but] I am attempting to play the perfect tennis in Grand Slams and attempting to win Grand Slams. That hasn’t modified. It nonetheless stays the identical.”
By two matches at Wimbledon this week, and significantly in his second-round victory, Djokovic has displayed an more and more excessive stage of tennis. He was relentless in his overpowering of the British Evans with an 89% win proportion on first serve and 46 winners (to Evans’ 19) within the conflict that lasted simply 1 hour and 47 minutes.
“The underside line is, it is fairly apparent why he is pretty much as good as he’s on that court docket,” Evans stated after the match. “He performed good tennis and confirmed everyone on Centre Courtroom why he is a contender.”
Djokovic instructed the group after the match he executed his recreation plan for the match “completely” and stated it was a type of days “the place every thing goes your manner.” With the win, he superior to the Spherical of 32 at Wimbledon for the nineteenth time. He’ll subsequent face fellow Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic on Saturday, with a spot within the second week on the road and an opportunity for his a centesimal profession victory on the All England Membership. Djokovic has gained all three of their earlier conferences, together with at Wimbledon in 2022.
GRASS HAS ALWAYS been nicely fitted to Djokovic’s taking part in type and it stays the floor wherein he has the largest benefit.
Although he did not play on the floor as a toddler, and even as a junior, he has managed to adapt his motion, and masterfully makes use of his flexibility and footwork to cowl the court docket. Along with his robust serve and return, that are apparent advantages, he can deal with the low-bouncing situations and differing pace of the grass higher than virtually anybody. Whereas some gamers have stated the court docket pace at Wimbledon has slowed lately, Djokovic stated on Thursday that grass stays the quickest floor, however added he believes the ball used has modified the tempo of play considerably. He is seemingly adjusted irrespective of how briskly or sluggish the court docket could also be.
Grass can be the softest and absorbs influence otherwise than the others — one thing that would actually profit an growing old participant with latest leg accidents.
However maybe most useful to him of all, Djokovic has the expertise on the floor that few others do. The grass season is undoubtedly the shortest portion of the calendar — with simply over three weeks separating the top of the French Open and the beginning of Wimbledon — so few high gamers take part in additional than two warmup occasions and a few, for various causes, play none in any respect. With such a brief window yearly, it may be laborious for gamers to ever actually really feel snug on the floor, as evidenced by the rash of top-seeded gamers who’ve been upset within the first two rounds of play.
“I do not know when the top is coming however I believe his finest probability is on grass,” stated Andy Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion and former world No. 1, on a latest episode of his “Served” podcast. “I believe his recreation because it stands presently — not Novak from 5 years in the past — however because it stands presently, I believe he will get probably the most profit from the floor on grass now. And he is aware of what to do with it.”
If Djokovic had been to win on Saturday, he would probably face No. 11 seed Alex de Minaur within the fourth spherical. Whereas No. 4 seed and British favourite Jack Draper was Djokovic’s presumed quarterfinal opponent, Draper misplaced within the second spherical on Thursday to unseeded Marin Cilic, the 2014 US Open champion. Whereas Cilic or Jakub Mensik, the No. 15 seed and rising teenage star, at the moment are potential foes within the quarters, Djokovic’s draw feels extra favorable in Draper’s absence. Sinner would probably await within the semifinals, and whereas Sinner has gotten the higher of Djokovic of their latest conferences, he is by no means superior previous that stage at Wimbledon earlier than, and misplaced in his lone lead-in occasion within the spherical of 16.
If Djokovic had been to make it to the championship match, he may arrange a third-consecutive Wimbledon remaining in opposition to Alcaraz, the undisputed favourite to win the title. Whereas it will be tough to defeat Sinner and Alcaraz back-to-back on one of many sport’s grandest levels, it will not be unattainable.
“He isn’t on the ranges of Carlos and Jannik, particularly within the final 18 months, as a result of the numbers converse for themselves, however the way in which he performed in opposition to Sinner [at the French Open] shocked me,” former world No. 12 Feliciano López stated in a latest interview with Sky Sports activities. “He challenged Sinner and pushed him to the restrict and, though the hole remains to be massive, I see the grass as the one place for him to get to this stage that they play as a result of the grass may be very totally different. Djokovic proved that he can nonetheless compete at this stage [and] he may have a greater probability on grass.”
Djokovic is a scholar and fan of the sport, and there is baby can inform him about his possibilities or what’s at stake that he would not already know. However as he basked within the adoration of the followers and the sunshine on Thursday afternoon, he admitted he would not permit himself to suppose a lot about what he is already achieved — as a substitute saving that for a day sooner or later wherein he can “sip margaritas on the seashore with Federer and Nadal and simply replicate” — however he’s centered on what’s instantly in entrance of him.
“Wimbledon nonetheless stays probably the most particular match in my coronary heart, the one which I all the time dreamed of successful after I was a child, so any historical past made right here is clearly further particular for me,” Djokovic stated. “It is the start of the match, so sure, I am conscious of the historical past on the road and I am clearly in a privileged place to do this, however on the similar time, I am desirous about the massive issues that I could make on this match.”
