Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic Makes Miraculous Recovery, Set to Play in First Round
Novak Djokovic, the seven-time Wimbledon champion, is finally prepared to take to the grass courts at the All England Club after an impressive recovery from a recent surgery on his right knee.
The Serbian superstar, who turned 37 on May 22, underwent surgery on his meniscus tear just 30 days ago, on June 5. Despite the short recovery time, he has made a remarkable comeback, according to sources.
Djokovic began his rehabilitation process in Paris before moving to London, where he landed on Sunday, heading straight to the All England Club for his first training session on the grass surface. Initially, he wore both elbow and knee pads, but only kept on the knee pad during his practice session, which suggests his injury is healing rapidly.
‘I feel fine,’ Djokovic said, discussing his decision to undergo the procedure. ‘When I decided to have the operation, Wimbledon was in doubt, but I have spoken to Fritz, who experienced something similar three years ago. He was able to return to competition in 21 days.’
The 24-time Grand Slam champion joins an elite group of athletes who have had similar procedures and returned to competition in record time. Wawrinka and Lindsay Vonn are among those who have navigated a similar path before.
Djokovic stated that he was determined not to miss his most beloved tournament, Wimbledon. In a career spanning over three decades, he has won the grand slam 34 times, with one of those victories coming two years ago when he stopped a slump of 34 consecutive wins for Carlos Alcaraz, a record he aims to exceed.
The 37-year-old tennis legend emphasized his passion to stay competitive, particularly at Wimbledon: ‘I don’t know why I’m so driven to return at my age. Maybe it’s better not to risk my health, which means playing on a different surface. But I absolutely don’t want to miss the Grand Slams. I have an incredible yearning to compete, especially at Wimbledon.’