Djokovic healthy enough to hunt eighth Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP):

NOVAK DJOKOVIC says his right knee has responded well after surgery to repair a torn meniscus less than a month ago, and he considers himself ready to contend at Wimbledon, where he has won seven of his 24 Grand Slam trophies.

Speaking at a pre-tournament news conference yesterday, Djokovic said that while he was “very much in doubt of making” it to the All England Club after getting hurt at the French Open on June 3, he is far more optimistic after a week of practices at the site of the grass-court major that begins tomorow.

His first-round match against qualifier Vit Kopriva is scheduled for Tuesday.

“I didn’t come here to play a few rounds and prove to myself and others that I can actually compete in one or two matches. I really want to go for the title,” said Djokovic, who is seeded number two behind Jannik Sinner and was the runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz a year ago at Wimbledon.

“The last three days have given me enough optimism and good signs that I can actually be in a state to compete on the highest level for the next few weeks, hopefully.”

The 37-year-old from Serbia was hurt during a five-set victory over Francisco Cerundulo in the fourth round at Roland Garros, withdrew before he was supposed to play in the quarter-finals, and underwent an operation in Paris on June 5.

After wearing a gray sleeve on his right leg while playing practice sets at the All England Club with players including Australian Open champion Sinner, 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev, and Frances Tiafoe, Djokovic said there haven’t been any setbacks and he is “confident about the health of my knee”.

Djokovic said he had “extensive conversations” with other athletes who have recovered from similar knee procedures, among them tennis players Taylor Fritz and Stan Wawrinka, and retired Olympic champion ski racer Lindsey Vonn.

In 2021, Fritz injured his knee at the French Open and returned to competition at Wimbledon three weeks later.

Alcaraz said he considered Djokovic superhuman for being able to come back so quickly.

When that comment was relayed to Djokovic, he grinned.

“Well, not really. I think Taylor Fritz is a superhuman. He recovered in 21 days; I (had) a bit more (time),” Djokovic said.

“It’s not ideal, maybe, in the eyes of the doctors and specialists that would normally tell you it’s normally between three and six weeks. The closer to six weeks, the better, probably, because you want to not risk too much and give your knee and your body time,” he said. “But it’s also individual. It’s very subjective. Everyone has a different response to the recovery, to the injury, to rehab, to exercises.”