History on the line for Djokovic in Wimbledon final

Novak Djokovic is ready to handle the weight of expectation when he steps on to Centre Court on Sunday

Novak Djokovic after beating Lorenzo Musetti (Antoine Couvercelle/Panoramic)

Carrie Dunn

July 13, 2024

Mutua Madrid Open •Semi-final • completed

See draw

N. DjokovicvsC. Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic has history in his sights ahead of Sunday’s men’s final at Wimbledon.

And he admitted that he knows there is pressure and expectation on him – but added that he also knows he has to be at his best every time he is on the court in order to keep up with men who are much younger than him.

“Obviously I’m aware that Roger [Federer] holds eight Wimbledons. I hold seven. History is on the line. Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam. Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time it’s also a lot of pressure and expectations.

“Every time I step out on the court now, even though I’m 37 and competing with the 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win, whatever, 99% of the matches that I play. I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at the level with Carlos [Alcaraz] or Jannik [Sinner] or Sascha [Zverev] or any of those guys, Daniil [Medvedev]. This year hasn’t been that successful for me. It’s probably the weakest results the first six months I’ve had in many years. That’s okay. I had to adapt and accept that and really try to find also way out from the injury that I had and kind of regroup.”

Wimbledon gets the best out of me – Djokovic

He added that Wimbledon is a place that inspires him to push himself even further.

“Wimbledon historically there’s been seasons where I wasn’t maybe playing at a desired level, but then I would win a Wimbledon title and then things would change. For example, that was the case in 2018 when I had elbow surgery earlier in the year, dropped my rankings out of top 20, losing in fourth round of Australian Open, I think it was quarters of Roland-Garros, and just not playing the tennis that I want to play. Then I won Wimbledon and then won US Open and then later on became No 1 very soon.

“Yeah, Wimbledon just extracts the best of me and motivates me to really always show up and perform the best I can.

“Of course, I’m aware of what’s on the line. It always is, really. Any Grand Slam that I play, there’s always history now on the line. I will try to use that as a fuel to, yeah, play my best tennis.”