Novak Djokovic Uncertain for Wimbledon After Knee Surgery

Novak Djokovic has made plans to travel to Wimbledon and is expected to arrive on Monday, but the seven-time champion remains uncertain about his ability to compete following knee surgery. The Serbian star withdrew from the French Open after tearing the medial meniscus in his right knee during the fourth round against Francisco Cerundolo. Djokovic underwent surgery in Paris just 17 days ago but aims to maximize his chances of participation by practicing at the All England Club.

Initially, Novak Djokovic’s Wimbledon and Olympic participation seemed improbable due to recent knee surgery. However, Djokovic has shared encouraging updates on Instagram, including videos of him using an exercise bike, performing gym exercises with leg weights, running, doing lunges, and hitting tentative serves. His message to his 14.6 million followers has been one of gradual progress: “We keep building day by day.”

Djokovic has reached the Wimbledon final for the past five years, losing a memorable five-set match to Carlos Alcaraz last year. Despite uncertainty, Djokovic expressed his strong passion for the sport and determination to compete at the highest level in a social media post after his surgery. Reflecting on similar experiences, Taylor Fritz’s recovery from a knee operation during the French Open to competing at Wimbledon a month later has provided Djokovic with hope.

Fritz, who faced challenges due to inflammation post-surgery, highlighted the variability in recovery among individuals. While competing in seven five-set matches in a fortnight might be challenging even for Djokovic, his rapid recovery suggests he will at least be present in London to assess his readiness for what could be his 19th appearance at Wimbledon. The Paris Olympics’ tennis competition begins on 27 July, just 13 days after Wimbledon concludes, adding another layer of consideration to Djokovic’s decision-making process.