Djokovic Triumphs Despite Stomach Issues
In a dramatic first-round match at Wimbledon on Tuesday night, Novak Djokovic triumphed over Alexandre Muller with a score of 6-1, 6-7 (7), 6-2, 6-2, despite experiencing notable stomach issues. During the match, Djokovic received medical assistance twice due to his ailments, which he described as an abrupt shift from feeling in peak form to struggling significantly.
“I humorously referred to the medication provided by the doctor as miracle pills, which I credited for rejuvenating my energy and aiding me in completing the match successfully.”
Confidence in Competing for the Title
Djokovic, who has been a dominant force at the All England Club with an impressive opening match record of 20-0, expressed confidence in his ability to compete for the title at the age of 38. He has previously claimed seven Wimbledon titles as part of his 24 Grand Slam victories, successfully reaching the finals in the last six consecutive tournaments, although he was bested by Carlos Alcaraz in both 2023 and 2024.
Unpredictability of the Tournament
Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic commented on the unpredictability of the tournament, noting that 23 seeded players, comprising 13 men and 10 women, had already been eliminated within the event’s initial days—an alarming statistic that matches the highest number of upsets in Grand Slam history since the introduction of a seeding system back in 2001.
Resilience and Future Matches
Despite his discomfort, Djokovic confirmed that he never contemplated withdrawing from the match, stating,
“No, I honestly wasn’t thinking about that or taking that as an option.”
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Against Muller, he showcased his resilience, generating 27 break points throughout the encounter and successfully converting seven of those, while only facing three break points himself, none until the final set.
With plans to face British player Dan Evans later this week, Djokovic expressed satisfaction with his serve and emphasized that honing this aspect of his game has been a focus of his recent training.
