By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, July 14, 2024
Photo credit: Rob Newell/CameraSport
Wimbledon—Novak Djokovic isn’t accustomed to life as a middle man.
Wedged between Wimbledon winner Carlos Alcaraz and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the rankings, Djokovic concedes he’s not at the lofty level of his fellow reigning major champions right now.
More: Alcaraz Dismisses Djokovic to Defend Wimbledon
In the aftermath of his 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(4) loss to defending champion Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final today, Djokovic said he’s just not as good as the young elites.
The Grand Slam king said his desire is deep—and he hopes to lift his level for this month’s Paris Olympics and next month’s US Open.
“The Olympic Games and US Open are the two big goals for the rest of the year for me really. I’m hoping I can be at my best on those two tournaments,” Djokovic said. “That’s all I can say right now. I mean, being able to reach the finals of Wimbledon, of course, it’s a great confidence boost.
“But I also feel like in a matchup today against best player right now in the world for sure, I mean, other than Jannik, and both of them are the best this year by far, I feel like I’m not at that level.”
Stats support that feeling: Djokovic has not defeated a Top 10 opponent since his 6-3, 6-3 sweep of Sinner in the ATP Finals title match in Turin last November.
The 37-year-old Serbian superstar has spent part of his career overcoming adversity knee surgery is the latest hurdle he’s cleared.
Coming off arthroscopic surgery to repair his torn medial meniscus in his right knee on Wednesday, June 5th in Paris, the second-seeded Serbian showed supreme determination just to battle into his 10th Wimbledon final.
Seven-time Wimbledon winner Djokovic said he has a simple goal for the rest of the season. Rely on resilience, strengthen his surgically-repaired right now and accept the fact he must be better to defeat Alcaraz and Sinner.
“In order to really have a chance to, I guess, beat these guys in Grand Slam latter stages or Olympics, I’m going to have to play much better than I did today and feel much better than I did today,” Djokovic said. “I’m going to work on it. It’s not something I haven’t experienced before ever in my life. I’ve had so many different experiences throughout my career. In the face of adversity, normally I rise and I learn…
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