Rising star
Hamad Medjedovic expressed his opinion that
Novak Djokovic will be the top favorite at
Wimbledon. The 20-year-old Serbian
praised his compatriot and described his ability to recover from injuries as
'insane'.
Although it's not 100% confirmed, everything indicates that
Djokovic will be part of the main draw at the All England Club despite his
recent knee injury. The 7-times champion underwent surgery just three weeks
ago, and although he initially seemed ruled out of the tournament, Nole is at
SW19 and has been training with several colleagues as he prepares to debut.
Medjedovic praises Djokovic's incredible recovery
The champion of the 2023 Next Gen ATP Finals is struggling
this season to display the level of tennis he showed last year when he won his
first ATP title, in addition to 4 Challengers throughout the year. Since the
beginning of his career, Medjedovic has been close to Djokovic, regularly
participating in training sessions with him and even receiving significant
financial support from his compatriot.
Last year, Medjedovic revealed that Djokovic had been
instrumental in his development as a tennis player: "Novak Djokovic has
been helping me out financially. Giving me whatever I need for my career. He
covered it all. He just helped me out when I needed it and [is] still helping
me out in all types of ways. I’m glad he’s there for me,” he explained last
year.
Currently ranked world No. 127, he was defeated in the
second round of Wimbledon qualifying, so he will not be in the main draw.
Medjedovic responded in an interview with Clay and revealed that he spoke with
Djokovic to learn about his situation after the knee surgery undergone by the
24-times Grand Slam champion.
“We’ve talked after his surgery,” Medjedovic
explained. “I was checking on him. He wants to play. Most likely he’s fit since
he came here. I really wish him to be healthy and fit. I hope that we get to
see him play this year at Wimbledon."
Djokovic won his 6th Wimbledon title in 2021.
“This (Djokovic’s ability to recover) is out of this world.
I think Novak is just something else. The way his body heals is insane. He had
a surgery two or three weeks ago. Now he’s here practising. He’s from another
planet,” Medjedovic added about the world No. 2. “If he’s fit and healthy,
which I believe he is, because he came here, he is, in my opinion, the biggest
favourite to be the champion,”
Medjedovic also commented on Djokovic's influence on the
popularity of tennis in Serbia: “We have a big population in Serbia that has
been playing tennis for years now,” the 20-year-old tennis player stated. “It’s
not so weird since we have Novak, the greatest tennis player of all time, the
best sportsman in the world. In my opinion, the best ever."
“We have so many other good players that are playing right
now and ex-players. I think Serbians like to play tennis. They enjoy the sport.
We have pretty much success in it.”
