Legend and jester, Novak Djokovic It crosses his last months in the circuit, almost always with a smile, with a comedy step. This time, the Serbian offered a sympathetic advice to Aryna SabalenkaThe number one in the world, this Saturday in Wimbledon, after breaking into the press conference of the Belarusian.
Djokovic and Sabalenka They spent some time practicing together at All England Club this week before the start of the Grand Slam tournament on lawn. Djokovic, seven times Wimbledon champion, interrupted the end of Sabalenka’s press conference to playful way telling him to rush so he could take the place.
Sabalenka then assumed the role of interviewer, while the reporters asked him about his session on the court. “What do you think of playing with me?” Sabalenka, winner of three great tournaments, asked Djokovic. “How do you see my level? Am I good?”
Djokovic, who has a total of 24 Grand Slams, quickly replied with a joke. “I think you have potential. You are a really talented player,” he said, before offering a criticism of Sabalenka, known as one of the players with the strongest blows in the women’s circuit.
“Can I be honest? You lack intensity on the court, ”said Djokovic, causing laughter. “You don’t have enough intensity. It is too flat. You have to relax a little and put some power. ”Sabalenka was not far behind: “You were my favorite player, no more”
Djokovic has experience with this type of mischief. In the All England Club in 2011, then number one Caroline Wozniacki He interrupted his press conference and bombarded him with questions. Djokovic then won his first Wimbledon title, while Wozniacki lost in the fourth round.
Djokovic begins his attempt for an eighth Wimbledon title on Tuesday, when he plays against Alexandre Mullerof France. Sabalenka will collide against Carson Branstine A day before.
It became part of the Djokovic routine, especially in the Grand Slam tournaments: they are presented and asked, at the beginning of the tournament, during the event and after the contest (sometimes in all three moments), if this will be his last appearance there.
It happened again in Wimbledon, and his response was the same as he usually gives, which is essentially summarized in: “Who can know?”. “Yes, it could be my last dance”the champion of 24 important titles began, repeating the phrase used by the reporter who raised the question. “I’m not sure, just as I’m not sure about Roland Garros or any other Grand Slam that plays below.”
And then Djokovic continued, apparently trying to silence any conversation about whether he is really considering retire at 38while it is also realistic about how things are. “My desire is play for several more years. I would love to be physically and also mentally motivated to continue playing at the highest level, “he said.” That is the goal. But you never know at this stage. ”
What Djokovic did admit is that the All England Club could be the most likely place to meet a more Grand Slam title in individuals, which would allow him to raise his total career to 25, a number that no tennis player ever reached.
“I would probably agree that Wimbledon It could be the best opportunitydue to the results I have had, how I feel, how I play in Wimbledon, “assumes.” Simply get that extra mental impulse and motivation to perform the best tennis at the highest level. “
Djokovic won seven championships in the lawn the final of 2023 and 2024 against Carlos Alcaraz.
In total, Djokovic was in the game for the title each of the last six times that the tournament was held (it was canceled in 2020 in the middle of the Covid-19 Pandemia), winning it in 2018, 2019, 2021 y 2022. His most recent defeat in Wimbledon was in 2017, when he was surpassed in the quarterfinals by the 2010 runner -up, Tom Berdych.
As for the persistent questions about the future of Djokovic, it is the same type of subject that was presented to Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams when those greats of the game approached their farewells.
Now it is simply Djokovic’s turn. “These tournaments still give me the greatest impulse,” said Djokovic. “I like how I feel nowphysically. As for tennis, I have been playing well in the practice sessions. It is obviously completely different when you start a tournament. ”
