Wimbledon: “On the Center Court, something in me wakes up”, warns Djokovic

Saturday, two days before the start, he warns: “When I enter the Center Court, something in me wakes up”. “I had never played on grass until I was 17. I always dreamed of winning Wimbledon. And from my beginnings on grass, I did not come out badly. I made my debut in the World Top 100 at Wimbledon (after his defeat in the third round in 2005, editor’s note). Then, for several years I struggled to raise my level of play on grass because naturally I tend to slip and the grass does not lend itself to it. I had to learn to move on grass, to play it, to read rebounds, etc… In addition, tournaments on grass are by far the least numerous during the season, unlike the 1940s, 50s , 60 where three of the four Majors were played on grass. This is no longer the case, but it is a surface that requires more time to adapt than the others. But over the past ten years, I have learned to adapt very quickly to this surface, as my results prove (he is aiming for an eighth victory at Wimbledon to equal Roger Federer’s record, editor’s note), especially since I have very played few preparatory tournaments. I had to play Queen’s in 2018, Eastbourne in 2017, and that’s it. Usually I play at least one or two exhibition games to get into the mood a bit. But when I step onto Center Court, something inside me wakes up and I’m able to play at the highest level.” With 23 Grand Slam titles, he approaches the defense of his title with serenity: “I don’t feel more relaxed, no (smile). I am always hungry for victories, Grand Slam titles, other successes in tennis. As long as I have this motivation, I know that I am capable of fighting at the highest level. If that motivation wears off, then I’ll probably see things differently. Only a few days after Roland-Garros, I was already thinking about my preparation for the grass. Despite the number of people who came to see me to congratulate me and highlight this historic success, which is obviously very pleasant, very flattering, my mind was already on Wimbledon. It is this mentality that is necessary to maintain the intensity. If you really want to have a chance of winning more Grand Slam titles, you have to maintain that focus and that dedication.”