Taylor Fritz reveals Novak Djokovic ‘reached out’ after Serb suffered meniscus tear

Taylor Fritz insists “it is possible” Novak Djokovic will be fit to play Wimbledon – based on his own experience of coming back from surgery on the same injury as tennis’ most decorated player.

Djokovic is back in training following arthroscopic surgery to repair a medial meniscus he tore during a fourth-round match at the recent French Open .

His status for Wimbledon , where he is a seven-time singles champion, remains uncertain with many assuming the Serb great will pull out in order to give himself the best chance to be right for the Paris Olympics.

Fritz , who powered into the second round of the cinch Championships with a straight sets win over Taro Daniel, 6-3, 6-3, sustained the same injury in the same tournament in 2021.

Having left the court at Roland Garros in a wheelchair, the American underwent surgery on his right knee and won his first-round match in SW19 just 20 DAYS later.

Speaking at the Queen’s Club, Fritz revealed that Djokovic had “reached out” to him “and asked me some questions”.

“I told him what it was like for me,” he said. “A lot of it comes down to the inflammation and how you react.

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“It’s possible for Novak to play. It’s the exact same thing that I had and I played. Obviously, I wasn’t contending to win a title, I was just showing up to hopefully win a couple of rounds – but it is possible.”

The two-time Eastbourne champion made it through to the third round that year, having started hitting again just “five to six days” post-surgery.

“When I did it I couldn’t even walk. People are different. It’s the same actual injury. It really comes down to the level of inflammation.

“You pretty much have your full strength immediately. It’s more just the inflammation from the surgery. As long as you can get that down and start playing without it puffing up again, you’re actually going to be fine to play.

“I was doing three-four hours of PT, a lot of icing, trying to stick to a diet which was not going to cause extra inflammation because I was real determined to play Wimbledon.

“But for me it was a little bit different. If Novak goes to Wimbledon he wants to be there to win. Playing a whole tournament is different than me at the time going there.

“I was going to be a low seed anyway (31). Winning a couple of rounds was a solid result for me.”

With Roger Federer retired, Rafa Nadal a confirmed absentee and serious doubts over Djokovic, world No 12 Fritz has hopes of improving on his quarter-final best in 2022.

Twice an Eastbourne champion on grass, he made light work of Japanese opponent Daniel to set up a second-round match against Milos Raonic, whose 47 aces against Cam Norrie on Monday set a record for the most hit in a best-of-three set ATP Tour match.

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Asked if the 14-year drought without an American singles winner at Queen’s, since Sam Querrey in 2010, could end this week, Fritz replied: “I think there’s definitely a couple of guys who possess the ability to win.

“I think all the American guys are good enough and if they’re playing well they can win,” he said.

Fifth seed Tommy Paul duly breezed past Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-4, while Seb Korda disposed of Karen Khachanov also in straight sets, 7-5, 7-6.

“This is my first week on grass, the first year I’ve ever not played on grass prior to this week and I’ve not done a ton of practising,” said Fritz. “But I feel I played pretty solid to the honest.

“It’s about getting my timing. That’s such a big part of my game. Specifically for me, my backhand and my serve is what works for me on grass. It’s about feeling it out and getting used to it. I’ve literally never had a good result the first two weeks of a grass court season. All my good results come last two weeks.

“It’s about being here and trying to find it and figure things out and make sure I’m playing my best tennis for Wimbledon.”