LONDON — Novak Djokovic is aware of what it means to should reside as much as excessive expectations after years of profitable titles and trophies.
He’s 39 years previous and has gained 24 Grand Slam tournaments, however is presently enjoying solely a handful of matches.
So he is in a greater place than anybody else to research how Serena Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion like him, felt after shedding her first singles match in nearly 4 years on the All England Membership earlier this week.
“Individuals all the time count on you to play your greatest as a result of they’re used to seeing you dominate this sport for therefore a few years,” Djokovic stated. “She’s 44 years previous. She’s received two children. It is regular for her to come back again and nonetheless not be at her greatest movement-wise. She hasn’t competed in years. Individuals must be slightly extra calm about judgment and criticism and all the things else. Simply benefit from the greatness of who she is and what she represents to this sport.”
Williams misplaced 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3 to 20-year-old Maya Joynt of Australia within the first spherical on Tuesday, however she confirmed that she will be able to maintain her personal in opposition to opponents lower than half her age, regardless that she hasn’t fought in a very long time.
Williams nonetheless served greater than 190 mph and scored factors with heavy groundstrokes. Nonetheless, there have been motion points and the world No. 87 joint was capable of hit the ball out of the attain of the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion and rating much more huge factors.
“It is an unbelievable present to our sport that she needs to tackle the problem and are available again,” Djokovic stated. “Typically individuals do not know why, however I do not suppose they absolutely perceive it. They simply begin speculating and making judgments. They’re like, ‘Hey, guys, come and have enjoyable. The best participant of all time is coming to play to deliver extra consideration to our sport.’
“I actually assist Serena, I all the time do. I hope she performs extra,” Djokovic added.
Williams acquired a wild card invitation to compete in each singles and doubles at Wimbledon, nevertheless it stays to be seen whether or not she is going to proceed to play doubles together with her sister Venus.
Williams introduced Wednesday that he tweaked his proper knee towards the tip of the primary set of the joint match. She nonetheless hopes to play doubles, however stated the one first-round match not on Friday’s schedule is the Williams sisters’ opener in opposition to Colombia’s Camila Osorio and Argentina’s Solana Sierra. There’s nonetheless an opportunity they will play on Saturday.
Ultimately yr’s US Open, Djokovic publicly challenged Serena’s return.
“When somebody challenges her, she by no means refuses. So I problem Serena. Come again on tour subsequent yr,” Djokovic stated in 2025.
Djokovic now needs to see Serena play at this yr’s US Open.
“For the sake of the tennis world and all of us, I hope to see extra of her,” Djokovic stated. “I feel the U.S. Open is the place she needs to play. It could be nice for her and everybody else to play in her residence slam.”
Djokovic gained his second-round match in opposition to Stefanos Tsitsipas on Middle Courtroom in straight units on Wednesday evening — 24 hours after watching Serena’s match on the identical courtroom on TV.
“What she’s doing is unbelievable. It is epic,” Djokovic stated. “I’ve all the time been a fan of Serena. I feel she needed and anticipated to win not less than one match or extra. I understand how aggressive she is and she or he has the spirit of a champion, so she’s not glad with simply displaying up on the courtroom. She needs to win.”
