Novak Djokovic Looks Forward to Another Great Year at Wimbledon

The Serbian Novak Djokovic, who beat the American Frances Tiafoe on Thursday in the Hurlingham exhibition, assured that he hopes it will be “another great year at Wimbledon”, where he aspires to an eighth title, which would equal the record of the Swiss Roger Federer. The Serbian defeated Tiafoe in three sets in what was his only preparation match on grass, after winning the title at Roland Garros three weeks ago.

“It is always a pleasure to play with Frances. I get along really well with him. He just made it to the top 10, so congratulations,” Djokovic said on court. “Wimbledon is very close, so I’ve tried to get some minutes,” added the Serbian, who was one of those chosen to test the center court of Wimbledon this Thursday, in a training set with the Italian Jannik Sinner.

“Wimbledon is the most traditional and historic tournament in the world. It is the favorite tournament for many. It’s strange that they let us play in the center before the tournament starts, but they started last year and this time I’ve had the privilege of trying the fresh grass. It is the best track in the world and the most famous stadium. I hope it will be another great year there”, explained the one from Belgrade.

Triunfo ante Tiafoe solvent

In his first and last match to prepare for Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic, who had not competed since the Roland Garros final, beat the American Frances Tiafoe (6-3, 3-6 and 10-7) in the Hurlingham exhibition. Djokovic, who has been training at the All England Club for several days, had a busy day that ended with the win against the American. He first trained at Aorangi Park, within the Wimbledon facilities, in a double session with the Italian Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic and Sinner worked out on court 2 before changing their clothes, donning all white and inaugurating Center Court, with a training set that lasted around 45 minutes. After this, he went to the Hurlingham club to play a friendly match against Tiafoe.

With a whirlwind start, in which he was up 4-1 and was two points away from 5-1, Djokovic easily took the lead against Tiafoe, who went from less to more and battled the second set to the point of defeat. take it away and force a final tie-break, in which after several comings and goings, the one who resolved was Djokovic.

This has been the only match Djokovic has played on grass this season and the first he has played since he lifted his 23rd Grand Slam title in Paris. The Serbian took advantage of the break after Roland Garros to celebrate his birthday with a vacation with his wife in Portugal and then rushed his preparation in Montenegro, before traveling to London, where he has won the title in the last four editions.

This year he is opting to match Roger Federer’s eight titles in the capital, which would bring his Grand Slam conquests to 24, two more than the absent Rafael Nadal. In the other game of the day in Hurlingham, the first British racket, Cameron Norrie, defeated the Serbian Laslo Djere 6-3, 6-2. The Spanish Carlos Alcaraz should have played two games in this event, against Holger Rune and against Dominic Thiem, but he canceled them to recover from some discomfort in the abductor muscle of his right leg.

2023-06-30 06:29:24
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