Wimbledon, UK, June 26, 2021 (AFP) – Novak Djokovic, this year’s Australian Open winner and Roland Garros, has arrived with great confidence at Wimbledon, the grass competition he has described as his “dream tournament” where he hopes to win the 20th title in one The big slams are thus equal to the record of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
“I said, ‘Grand Slams are, at this point in my career, my main motivation. I want to win as many as I can,'” the world number one said at a press conference at Wimbledon.
“I love playing here, it has always been my dream tournament. I always get goosebumps when I enter these stadiums,” said the Serbian, who was “full of confidence after winning his first Grand Slam of the season and playing a lot in the well at Roland Garros.
At the French Open, the Serbian said, “I came forward with a lot of positive energy and a lot of confidence. I couldn’t enjoy this win because after four days of the title I had to train on the grass.”
Djokovic won Wimbledon in 2018 and 2019, while he did not have a fresh one in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As defending champion, Djoko will be the first to play on the grass on Central Court on Monday, where he will face 19-year-old Briton Jack Draper (250th in the standings), “a player who will have the support of the public and have nothing to lose”, in Second place.
“There are many unique things about Wimbledon, one of which is the tradition of playing the defending champion on Monday on the main court, on the virgin grass (…) There is no publicity, no belt, it’s all just tennis,” declared the 34-year-old.
He concluded: “All attention is focused on the players and on the field. I find it wonderful in a commercial and physical world like the one we live in.”
ig / iga / psr / lca
