Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic may thrive as underdog; Alcaraz, Sinner enter as favourites | Tennis News

When he was forced to withdraw from the French Open quarterfinal after tearing his medial meniscus in his right, it would have been perfectly reasonable to assume Novak Djokovic will not play at Wimbledon.In indifferent form all year, the latest physical setback to his 37-year-old body meant that it may have made sense for Djokovic to rest up and not make the change to the slippery surface of grass with the Olympics – the one tennis achievement that continues to elude him – set to be held on clay at Roland Garros next month.
Yet, three weeks and a prompt surgery later, it feels perfectly reasonable to suggest he has a shot at the title.
The Serb’s recent words of affirmation on his fitness and form, coupled with a favourable draw and all the grass-court know-how that has made him a seven-time Wimbledon champion, would have made his opponents sit up with caution.
Djokovic had no qualms in voicing his convictions. He arrived, post-surgery and rehab, to the lawns at SW19 with the idea of competing only if he had a chance to go all the way; mere participation would have been a non-starter. Practice sets, exhibition matches, and strength and conditioning training have all given him the indication that there is every chance for him to do that.

That time of year 🌱 Good to be back. Giving my best to be ready for #wimbledon 🎾💪 pic.twitter.com/caop6cVYjY
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) June 25, 2024
“I arrived here on Sunday. It’s been a week of training. High intensity. Lots of situations on the court where the knee is tested to almost the maximum,” he said in his pre-event press conference, per Reuters. “The knee has responded very well to all of that so far.”
“I wouldn’t call it a fear of missing out,” he added on why he has come to SW19 nursing an injury. “I would just say it’s this incredible desire to play, just to compete. Particularly, because it is Wimbledon… Just the thought of missing Wimbledon was just not correct.”
For all his confidence though, Djokovic is undeniably an underdog at this year’s Championships, for the first time in 5 years. The only player to have beaten him since did so in last year’s resounding final.
Carlos Alcaraz arrives at SW19 as one of the favourites to defend his title. The euphoria over his French Open triumph has now settled and reality checks have been served from his humbling early exit at the tuneup ATP grass event at the Queen’s Club last week. His proven mettle in the best-of-five format and grass court pedigree speaks for itself now, and he looks to have a seemingly unchallenging path to the semifinal where the tallest hurdle may await.
Newly-crowned World No. 1 Jannik Sinner did not let his official status as the world’s best tennis player weigh him down during Wimbledon preparations, lifting his first career grass court title in Halle last week to prove himself on this surface and enter the tournament as the bookmakers’ favourite.
Sinner has a more challenging route to glory as opposed to his two main rivals even before getting to familiar foe Alcaraz.
The flourishing young rivalry has thrown up some great tennis and remains narrative rich. The highs of three-time Major winner Alcaraz’s resume, at a younger age, may be enviable for Sinner but the Italian’s consency (58 wins, 5 losses since September 2023), thanks to superior physical conditioning and a less up-and-down game, has not yet been achieved Alcaraz.
As their potential clash will be highly anticipated, Djokovic will be keen to march through the draw in the background, in the awareness that he will only have to deal with one of the young stars that have tested him over the last year in the final. More immediate concerns may be over the big-serving eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz, the crafty home favourite in Jack Draper, or recent French Open runner-up Alexander Zverev.
But Djokovic will first have to fight his body and average form before he mulls over who’s on the other side of the net. That will be a new kind of challenge, even for him, but one he may cherish.