Novak Djokovic to play at Wimbledon, but only if he feels he can challenge for the title

LONDON – Novak Djokovic is encouraged by his progress after undergoing minor knee surgery, but the seven-time Wimbledon champion said he will play in the grass-court Grand Slam in July, only if he is able to fight for the title.

The 37-year-old picked up the injury to his right knee during his fourth-round win at the French Open, and pulled out of the quarter-finals before having surgery on June 6, putting his Wimbledon and Olympic hopes in jeopardy.

However, the Serb, whose Paris Games spot has been confirmed, posted videos of his return to training on Instagram last week before arriving at the All England Club on June 23 and immediately ramping up his preparations.

“I didn’t come here to play a few rounds. If I know I can play close to my maximum or at maximum, then I’ll play. If not, then I’ll give somebody else a chance to play,” Djokovic told the BBC.

“Rehab is going in the right direction every single day, a few per cent better and better. That’s what’s giving me hope and encouragement to keep going. I’m taking things gradually. I’m not pushing myself yet 100 per cent, but I’m hoping that’s going to come in the next few days.”

The world No. 2 is looking to end his title drought in 2024 after winning three of the four Grand Slams last season, as he hunts for a record-extending 25th Major trophy.

His only defeat in the Grand Slams in 2023 came at Wimbledon, where he was beaten in five sets by Carlos Alcaraz in the title decider.

Wimbledon runs from July 1 to 14.

In women’s tennis, Jelena Ostapenko launched her bid for a second Eastbourne title with a gritty straight-sets win over Greet Minnen in the first round of the Wimbledon warmup event on June 24, while top seed Elena Rybakina withdrew from the tournament.

Latvian fifth seed Ostapenko, the 2021 Eastbourne champion, defeated the Belgian qualifier 7-6 (7-3), 6-1.

There was a worrying moment for the 2017 French Open champion when she fell on the grass midway through the second set but the world No. 13 recovered to close out the win.

Ostapenko once won nine straight matches at Eastbourne, taking the 2021 title and reaching the 2022 final, before her run was ended by Petra Kvitova.

“I think the surface suits me really well. The first time I played on grass, I was like, ‘How can we play tennis on this surface? I don’t understand what’s happening here’. But then every year was better and better,” she said.

Asked about her fall, she added: “Grass is a great surface, but sometimes it can be really slippery and really tricky. So I took the medical timeout just to make sure I’m fine.”

The four leading players at Eastbourne were all given byes into the second round but Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, withdrew from the event following what the WTA said was a “change of schedule”. REUTERS, AFP