TAfter days of insinuations, doubts and uncertainties, Novak Djokovic He showed he was ready for high competition. The Serbian defeated Daniil Medvedev in the Hurlingham exhibition (6-3 and 6-4) and will reach Wimbledon with all the guarantees. “I have played without pain,” he said. The one from Belgrade, who underwent surgery on the meniscus in his right knee 23 days ago, took the definitive step this Friday to be in Wimbledonplaying his first complete match since beating Francisco Cer�ndolo in the round of 16 at Roland Garros a little over three weeks ago.
The current number two in the world increased the intensity of training these days, first exercising with Federico Coriawith whom he only played ‘tie breaks’, not sets, later with Frances Tiafoe, whom he defeated in a complete set, and, after a one-day break to go see Serbia at the Eurocup, with Jannik Sinneragainst whom he played one set and part of another.
definitive proof
The definitive test was appearing, almost by surprise, because it was only announced a few hours in advance, at the exhibition of Hurlinghamin which he already played in the past, to face Medvedev, whom he beat without excessive effort.
Djokovic won a first set in which he was excellent on serve, winning 88% of the second serves he put into play, and, despite starting the second set losing 1-3, he took five of the last ones. six games to close his first and only victory on grass before he debuts at Wimbledon next Tuesday.
“I really enjoyed today’s training, that’s all I can say.”
He Serbian will have an extra day of rest since he has fallen in the lower part of the table, while the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz, current defender of the title and in charge of opening the action on center court, is at the top. After the match, and despite playing with a knee brace, the Serbian confirmed that he no longer has pain. “What I can tell you is that I really enjoyed today.“he told the interviewer in Hurlingham.
“I have played without pain. It has been a great test to be with the best in the world. I have trained well in recent days. I wanted to go out today, test my knee, move and duck into bumps. The test has been a success, it has gone very well,” he noted. “It has been three very intense weeks, training hard to have a chance to be in London. My surgeon is here (points to the audience). It’s his fault. Without him it would have been impossible to be here. Now I want to go every day to see how far I can go,” he added.
I owe everything to the surgeon, without him I wouldn’t be here, now I have to go every day
In addition, Djokovic said that his inspiration for trying to reach Wimbledon was Taylor Fritzwho suffered the same problem as him three years ago and was able to play in London, where he reached the third round, playing four- and five-set matches.
“I have had four or five more days. He is the first person I wrote to and he has been very generous in telling me how it was. land wrote to �lya other athletes, to Ibrahimovic, Lindsey Vonn, Stan Wawrinka… Everyone has been very nice in sharing contacts that could help me,” added the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
