“It’s a lot of pressure and expectations”: Djokovic eyes Federer’s record as he prepares for Wimbledon final
ATP
Novak Djokovic
acknowledged that he is pursuing Roger Federer's historic record of eight
Wimbledon titles. The Serbian, owner of 7 crowns at SW19, will play the title
match on Sunday against Carlos Alcaraz, in a repeat of the 2023 final, in which
the young Spaniard emerged victorious after nearly five hours of play.
The world No. 2
arrived at Wimbledon with doubts about the level he could show just a few weeks
after undergoing surgery for a meniscus tear in his knee, but he managed to
reach his 10th final in the iconic grass-court tournament, seeking his 8th
title there.
Djokovic aims for eighth Wimbledon title
The 24-time Grand Slam
champion has had an easy run at the All England Club. He has only dropped two
sets throughout the tournament, the last against Alexei Popyrin in the third
round. He then swept past Holger Rune (15th seed) in the fourth round, advanced
directly from the quarterfinals after Alex De Minaur (9th) withdrew, and
dispatched Lorenzo Musetti (25th) in the semifinals in straight sets.
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Djokovic now has the
opportunity to equal Roger Federer's record at Wimbledon if he secures the 8th
crown there. Additionally, he could finally surpass Margaret Court with the
25th Grand Slam title and become the player, male or female, with the most Grand
Slam trophies in history.
Both milestones are on
Nole's mind, who anticipated that it will be an extra motivation when he faces
Alcaraz on Sunday: “Obviously I’m aware that Roger holds eight Wimbledons. I
hold seven. History is on the line. Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam,” said
Djokovic.
“Of course, it serves
as a great motivation, but at the same time, it’s also a lot of pressure and
expectations. Every time I step out on the court now, even though I’m 37 and
competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches,
and people expect me to win, whatever, 99 per-cent of the matches that I play.
“I always have to come
out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at the level with
Carlos or Jannik (Sinner) or Sascha (Zverev) or any of those guys, Daniil
(Medvedev),” he added.
Djokovic also
commented that if he wins the title, it will be a boost at this stage of the
season to channel his ambitions in 2024. “This year hasn’t been that successful
for me,” the world No. 2 stated. “It’s probably the
weakest results the first six months I’ve had in many years. That’s okay. I had
to adapt and accept that and really try to find also way out from the injury
that I had and kind of regroup."
Novak Djokovic playing at 2024 Wimbledon Championship.
The Serbian arrived at
Wimbledon without any titles yet this season, something that, since his first
title in 2006, only happened in 2018. Precisely that year, Djokovic won his 4th
Wimbledon and ended a great season with the US Open title and two Masters 1000,
in addition to the year-end world No. 1: “Wimbledon, historically, there have
been seasons where I wasn’t maybe playing at a desired level, but then I would
win a Wimbledon title and then things would change.”
“For example, that was
the case in 2018 when I had elbow surgery earlier in the year, dropped my
rankings out of the top 20, losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open,
I think it was quarters of Roland Garros, and just not playing the tennis that
I want to play,” the world No. 2 commented.
“Then I won Wimbledon
and then won the US Open and then later on became No. 1 very soon. Yeah,
Wimbledon just extracts the best of me and motivates me to really always show
up and perform the best I can,” Novak Djokovic added. “Of course, I’m aware of
what’s on the line. It always is really. Any Grand Slam that I play, there’s
always history now on the line. I will try to use that as fuel to play my best
tennis.”
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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