LONDON (AP) — Novak Djokovic wore a gray sleeve on his surgically repaired right knee while winning his first-round match at Wimbledon on Tuesday without too much of a test.
Playing his first match since tearing the meniscus in his knee at the French Open on June 3, Djokovic never faced a break point along the way to a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory over qualifier Vit Kopriva in under two hours on Centre Court.
“Very pleased with the way I felt on the court. Obviously, coming into Wimbledon this year was little bit of different circumstances for me, because of the knee. I didn’t know how everything was going to unfold on the court, really,” Djokovic said. “Practice sessions are quite different from official match play. I’m just extremely glad (with) the way I felt today, the way I played.”
He accumulated 15 break chances, converting six, and delivered his usual clean strokes, finishing with twice as many winners, 32, as unforced errors, 16.
There were plenty of quick points, which probably was at least in part a result of Djokovic trying not to spend too much time running more than he needed to. He ended up taking 68 of the 91 exchanges that lasted four or fewer strokes.
“I tried to really focus on the game and not really think too much about the knee,” Djokovic said. “Everything I could possibly do, I’ve done, along with my team, in the last 3 1/2 weeks in order to give myself a chance to be able to play.”
The 37-year-old Djokovic has won seven of his men’s-record 24 Grand Slam titles at the All England Club and was the runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz last year.
Djokovic hurt his knee during a five-set win at Roland Garros and pulled out of that tournament, then had surgery in Paris on June 5. Less than a month later, he was back in action and taking the first step toward what he hopes would be an eighth championship at Wimbledon, which would tie Roger Federer’s mark for the most by a man.
“If it was for any other tournament, I probably wouldn’t risk it, wouldn’t rush it as much,” Djokovic said. “I just love Wimbledon.”
Speaking to the crowd after the match, Djokovic thanked his surgeon, saying: “Without him doing his job well, things would be a bit complicated.”
He also noted Andy Murray’s withdrawal on Tuesday, a little more than a week after the 37-year-old from Scotland had a procedure to remove a cyst from his spine. Murray won two of his three major trophies at Wimbledon.
“A great blow to the tournament. It’s unfortunate, really,” Djokovic said. “Great respect to him (for) all he has done in this tournament and this sport. I just hope he will be able to finish his career on his terms.”
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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
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Rephrased content:
Novak Djokovic, wearing a gray sleeve on his right knee due to a recent surgery, won his opening match at Wimbledon without much difficulty. The Serbian player, who had torn his meniscus during the French Open, triumphed in straight sets against Vit Kopriva on Centre Court. Djokovic expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating that he felt good on the court despite initial concerns about his knee.
During the match, Djokovic did not face any break points and managed to convert 6 out of 15 break opportunities. He showcased his usual strong game with clean strokes, producing 32 winners and 16 unforced errors. Djokovic aimed to keep the points short, possibly to reduce excessive running that could strain his knee, winning the majority of exchanges lasting four or fewer strokes. He emphasized his focus on the game and credited his team for helping him prepare for the tournament.
The 37-year-old, with a record 24 Grand Slam titles, is looking to claim his eighth Wimbledon title, which would equal Roger Federer’s achievement. Djokovic expressed a deep affection for Wimbledon, indicating that he would not have rushed his return for any other tournament. He thanked his surgeon for a successful operation and acknowledged Andy Murray’s withdrawal from the tournament due to a recent spine procedure, expressing respect for the British player’s accomplishments.
Despite the challenges he faced with his knee injury, Djokovic remains determined to compete at the highest level and pursue further success at Wimbledon. The Serbian player’s return to form at the prestigious tournament has garnered attention and raised hopes for another remarkable performance on the grass courts of the All England Club.
