Novak Djokovic, winner of the Australian Open and Roland Garros this year, arrives full of confidence at Wimbledon, the Grand Slam on grass that he described as “the tournament of (his) dreams”, and where he hopes to win a 20th Grand Slam title and thus equal the record held by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“I have already said it, the Grand Slam tournaments are, at this point in my career, my main motivation. I want to conquer as many as possible, “he began by confessing the No. 1 in the world at a press conference from Wimbledon.
«I love playing here, it was always the tournament of my dreams. I always get goosebumps when I enter these tracks, “said the Serbian, who was” full of confidence after having conquered the first two ‘Big’ of the season and after having played very well at Roland Garros.
That tournament, he said about the French Grand Slam “asked me a lot on a mental, physical, emotional level. But I came out with a lot of positive energy and confidence. That created like a wave and I try to surf it. I couldn’t really enjoy that victory because four days after the title I was training on grass courts ».
Djokovic conquered Wimbledon in 2018 and 2019, before the tournament was not played in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As the defending champion, ‘Nole’ will be the first to play on the virgin grass of Center Court on Monday. The 34-year-old Serbian will play his first game against a British teenager, 19-year-old Jack Draper (250th in the standings), “a player who will be supported by the public and who has nothing to lose,” according to Djokovic.
“There are many unique things in Wimbledon, one of them is this tradition of having the reigning champion play on Monday on the Central Court, on immaculate grass (…) There is not the slightest publicity, the smallest banner, everything is just tennis, all Attention is directed to the players and to the court. It seems to me something fascinating in a world as commercial and materialistic as the one we live in, “he said. (AFP)