Djokovic eyes redemption at Wimbledon
The season has not panned out as Novak Djokovic would have envisaged back in January but the former world number one will hope to find redemption at Wimbledon as he looks to defend his crown and close in on Rafael Nadal's 22 Grand Slam titles.
The 35-year-old Serb has won the last three editions of Wimbledon in 2018, 2019 and last year, with the 2020 tournament cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He was also on track for a rare calendar-year Grand Slam in 2021 after winning the first three majors, before losing to Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final.
Any hopes of a repeat performance this season were quickly dashed with his high-profile detention and deportation ahead of the Australian Open in January due to his refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
He then missed a string of US tournaments for the same reason and only got serious match practice once the claycourt season got under way in Europe. Winning in Rome was a much-needed confidence boost ahead of the French Open but he lost in the quarter-finals in Paris to subsequent winner Nadal.
Djokovic, the favourite for Wimbledon, has 20 Grand Slam titles to his name, as many as Roger Federer, while Nadal, who went on to win his 14th title at Roland Garros, moved two ahead of them.
Wimbledon has been extremely fertile hunting ground for Djokovic, who has won the title six times, second only to Federer (8) and Pete Sampras (7) for most wins there in the Open era.
The tournament has been stripped of any ranking points by the men's ATP and women's WTA after its organisers decided to ban Russian and Belarussian players from participating in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
That will, however, matter little for Djokovic, even though he cannot defend the points he won there last year. Wimbledon could be his last Grand Slam of the year with the United States requiring visiting foreigners to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
With world number one Medvedev banned due to Russia's 'special operation' in Ukraine, and second-ranked Alexander Zverev missing through injury, Djokovic will be the top seed when Wimbledon's main draw starts next week.
Competition will come from Nadal and Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas but also from Italy's Matteo Berrettini who has already claimed two titles on grass this month in Stuttgart and Queen's. Berrettini has now won 20 of his last 21 matches on grass, his only loss coming in last year's Wimbledon final to Djokovic.
Ruling Djokovic out because of his tempestuous season so far should come with a risk warning, with the Serbian known for his resilience and mental strength, especially on the big occasions.
What remains to be seen is if he can turn his season around with victory at Wimbledon or if he will need to write it off altogether.
-
DOJ accuses TikTok of collecting and sharing users' personal views, as the app fights a ban天热了 请别忽视爱车的“心脏”天热了 请别忽视爱车的“心脏”与城区擦肩 5分钟内可绕过芦山城22 Unusual Things You Can Find in the DesertAll over for Bayern with Dortmund defeat[From the scene] ‘Farewell ceremony’ held for two recovered Sewol victimsN. Korean media calls for selfTesla's big software update includes something called 'Night Curfew'紫光阁元勋画像“骁勇王国”的统帅和勇士
下一篇:Alcaraz vs. Van de Zandschulp 2024 livestream: Watch US Open for free
- ·North Korea says it conducted important test to develop multiple warhead missile
- ·French Open in doubt for Nadal after Monte Carlo withdrawal
- ·S. Korea mulling various measures to intensify pressure on NK: foreign ministry
- ·Daniel Dae Kim breaks silence over 'Hawaii Five
- ·Pressure boost squeezes out more hydrogen from artificial leaves
- ·KiwiCo in Australia: Everything you need to know
- ·Bill Murray is opening a 'Caddyshack' restaurant near Chicago
- ·'Tennis is in great hands' says Sinner's coach Cahill
- ·'Hyundai Way': Auto giant's W121tr plan aims to seize mobility market lead
- ·“消费安全示范单位”评选 我市各界积极响应
- ·Vettel signals at Formula One return
- ·Stable and scalable photo
- ·NASA rover snaps photo of its most daunting challenge yet
- ·Two strangers hit it off after weird iMessage glitch brings them together
- ·Spend $80 on P&G products and get a $20 Amazon credit
- ·Dyson hair care sale: Refurbished Corrales and Supersonics for $199.99 and a $379.99 Airwrap
- ·“精致小春姐”顾春芳:华丽白西装、镶钻水晶拖鞋,带来新兴凉果No.1
- ·McIlroy rings changes in quest for elusive Masters win
- ·Game of Thrones Season 7 could give us an Arya/Nymeria reunion at last
- ·Tight at the top as Ipswich lead Championship
- ·Tesla Robotaxis aren't coming in August, it seems
- ·[From the scene] ‘Farewell ceremony’ held for two recovered Sewol victims
- ·[Newsmaker] 9 in 10 Koreans say anti
- ·Petrol prices pumped up in Pyongyang
- ·Cicadas love to land on people. Experts explain why.
- ·A dark web marketplace went down, and oh boy did its customers freak out
- ·Pixel 9 Pro XL hands
- ·Mobile World Congress postponed due to COVID
- ·France seeks to end the sale of gas and diesel
- ·Rodrygo powers Madrid past Athletic to maintain Liga lead
- ·How to unblock Xnxx for free
- ·Berrettini reaches first ATP final since 2022
- ·KiwiCo in Australia: Everything you need to know
- ·Meet Carrie Bradshaw's biggest critic
- ·'Hyundai Way': Auto giant's W121tr plan aims to seize mobility market lead
- ·Tiger Woods set to play Masters despite injuries