Novak Djokovic (6-4, 7-6(2) and 6-4 against Lorenzo Musetti) knows how to get people in his pocket. After the disagreement of four nights ago, when the Centre Court crowd booed him during the match against Holger Rune and he responded with a celebration that has already been recorded in the tournament’s historical compendium —”Good night! This doesn’t affect me…”—, the Serbian jokes and the crowd laughs out loud. “Carlos [Alcaraz, su rival el domingo] “He is a great example of the great balance of a great player: great team, great family. He deserves to be the best at 21 years old and I wish him the best in the future. He will win many Grand Slams in the future, I hope not on Sunday, maybe when I retire, in 50 years…”, says the Belgrade native, who has as much experience in entanglements as he has mastery of dialectics.
Djokovic (37 years old) knows how and when to touch the sensitive fiber, and he knows like few others what is the path to success at Wimbledon. Already present in his tenth final at the All England Club, he is just one trophy away from equalling the record of the Swiss Roger Federer and his 25th Grand Slam. The horizon is very tempting, not to mention that just 37 days ago he had surgery on his right knee in Paris. He started the tournament with a lot of effort, not knowing how the joint would respond and losing a couple of sets against Fearnley and Popyrin, but the night episode on Monday spurred the old champion on and now he raises the tone ahead of the clash with Alcaraz. Once again, face to face with the Murcian: same scenario, different circumstances. He says he is going for it, that he will fight with everything to recover the glory lost a year ago in London.
“Different year, different ending?” he is asked on the track. And he answers: “I have said it many times, Wimbledon is the tournament I dreamed of as a child. That 7-year-old boy who felt the bombs in the air and dreamed of playing on this court. He would build the tournament trophy out of anything at home. The visualization was great, but it wouldn’t have been enough without the enormous support of my family on this incredible journey. I don’t take it for granted and that’s why I try to enjoy it. I’m very happy to be in another final and I don’t want to stop here. I hope to lift the trophy on Sunday.”
On Sunday (15.00, Movistar+) he will face his 37th victory in a major tournament, six more than Federer (31) and three more than Chris Evert (34), the woman who has managed to reach the final the most times. “There is no formula or potion for success. If you have had difficulties in life, it helps you,” says the Balkan player, who has already recorded 97 victories on the London grass; that is, more than at Roland Garros (96), the Australian Open (94) and the US Open (88). And now he is confident that, despite everything, despite the uncertainty caused by the knee operation and the recovery in record time, he can extend his tally.
“I had a lot of doubts. Everything was open, whether I could play or not, even the draw. I played an exhibition match and some sets with players top“I hope that this time it ends differently. Last year Carlos beat me in a great match, so I expect nothing less than that, a great battle on the court. He is one of the most complete and he will demand the maximum from me on Sunday. I know that,” concludes Djokovic, the man who has played in the last 10 years. resurrected several times at Wimbledon. She got back on track in 2018 after hitting rock bottom and then in 2021.
Without any titles this season – for the first time in his career – and after having undergone surgery – on June 5 in Paris, the day after retiring at Roland Garros – he hopes to repeat it again. Incredible but true: it’s 37 years, 37 finals, 37 days since the scalpel cut. And there he is, a competitor without limits. He said after passing the final knee test that he came to win, that he came for everything. And he’s not far off. Nole wasn’t bluffing.
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