'With Novak, nothing is impossible': Di Pasquale on Djokovic's Wimbledon return

Former ATP player Arnaud Di Pasquale believes that Serbia’s legendary tennis star Novak Djokovic is eager to play at Wimbledon, knowing the time is running out. The 37-year-old is regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the Open era, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic is having a difficult campaign. He has yet to play in a final of any event. His most recent appearance was during the French Open, which also ended on a disappointing note. Djokovic was forced to withdraw just before the start of the quarterfinal against Norway’s Casper Ruud after suffering a knee injury. Following the injury, the former world number had to undergo surgery, which put his participation in the upcoming mega-events at risk.

Former ATP player Di Pasquale, while talking to Eurosport as quoted by Tennis 365, stated that the legendary tennis star is eager to take part in the event, knowing that the time is running out. The 45-year-old also stated that Djokovic, who has tons of experience playing at Wimbledon, will only feature in the competition if he is 100 percent.

“With Novak, nothing is impossible,” he said. “But under what conditions? If it’s not 100%, I don’t believe it, it’s not to make up the numbers. In addition, at Wimbledon, he knows very well that it is a tournament in which he is capable of beating these young people again. Even more perhaps than on clay in fact. There is this obvious desire to be ready for Wimbledon, because time is passing and he knows very well that the end is approaching.”

Djokovic has a fabulous record while playing at Wimbledon. He has won seven titles, the second-most in the competition’s history, only behind former world number one Roger Federer of Switzerland.

In the 2023 edition of the competition, the Belgrade-born star lost in the final against Spain’s young tennis sensation Carlos Alcaraz in a five-set thriller, with a score of 1–6, 7–6(8–6), 6–1, 3–6, 6–4.