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‘Novak Djokovic has desire to be ready for Wimbledon because he knows the end is approaching’
By Ewan West,
2024-06-19
Novak Djokovic in action at Wimbledon
Former ATP player Arnaud Di Pasquale has declared that “nothing is impossible” for Novak Djokovic, but feels the Serbian will only play Wimbledon if he is “100%.”
The Olympic bronze medallist believes there is an “obvious desire” for Djokovic to be ready for Wimbledon because “time is passing and he knows very well that the end is approaching.”
Djokovic’s participation at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships is uncertain as he continues his recovery from the injury he suffered at the French Open.
The 37-year-old tennis legend tore the medial meniscus in his right knee during his five-set last 16 victory against Francisco Cerundolo at Roland Garros. The Serbian pulled out ahead of his quarter-final match with Casper Ruud and underwent surgery.
Many former tennis stars and pundits have cast doubt over Djokovic’s chances of competing at Wimbledon, which will get underway on July 1.
Di Pasquale weighed in on whether Djokovic might return to action at the All England Club and highlighted the fact the grass-court Slam could present a good opportunity for the Serb.
“With Novak, nothing is impossible. But under what conditions? If it’s not 100%, I don’t believe it, it’s not to make up the numbers,” the Frenchman told Eurosport .
“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.
“Finally, on the Grand Slam tournaments which are physically tough, but which are different in duration and endurance than a Roland Garros, or tournaments like the US Open or the Australian Open.
“I say to myself, as Roger Federer said to himself, on grass, at the end of their career like that, perhaps they have better luck.”
Di Pasquale, who reached a career-high ATP ranking of world No 39, defeated Roger Federer in the bronze medal match at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.
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