By Tony Fairbairn at Wimbledon
- Novak Djokovic is remaining optimistic over the progress of his knee after a testing four set victory over Jacob Fearnley
- Grigor Dimitrov spoke about comparisons between playing Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon
- Ons Jabeur speaks about the advantages and disadvantages of her playing style after reaching the third round of Wimbledon
LONDON, ENGLAND – Novak Djokovic is remaining positive over his knee injury after a testing four set win over Jacob Fearnley while Grigor Dimitrov reflected on past Wimbledon matches on day four.
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Novak Djokovic optimistic over knee injury heading into third round
The day four talking points starts with seven-time champion Novak Djokovic who survived his first test of the tournament with a four set win over British wildcard Jacob Fearnley.
Things were looking comfortable for Djokovic until Fearnley raised his game with the Brit’s valiant effort nearly earning him a deciding set against the Serb.
However, the world number two went into an extra gear to seal a four set victory and reach the third round.
After the match Djokovic gave credit to Fearnley and admitted conditions were difficult on Centre Court.
“Yeah, credit to him for playing a really great match. I thought he fought. He kept believing even though he was two sets down and a break down. Yeah, he got the crowd involved,” Djokovic said in praise of Fearnley.
“I dropped my level. I think I should have done some things better in the third set to finish it off. Yeah, very challenging conditions today. Very, very windy. Not easy to find the right tempo and the right rhythm on the ball.
“I think I just did enough to win there in the fourth. Was a bit lucky to really get out of the trouble, not to go break down. Hopefully I can raise the level in the upcoming rounds.”
It was a severe test for Djokovic but just like champions do the Serb survived another day as he edges closer to the second week.
Not only did Djokovic receive a big test but his knee received its first big test as he struggled with his movement at times.
Speaking after the match Djokovic remains optimistic that its getting stronger and believes it will only improve further as the tournament goes on.
“So the longer I stay in the tournament, I think the better the chances that my movement will improve. The earlier rounds is where I’m still a little bit rusty on the movement, I think,” Djokovic stated.
“That’s what I felt today, at least. But yeah, I don’t worry about reinjuring my knee. I don’t have time nor energy to think about it, nor do I think it’s worth it. I wouldn’t be here unless I think that – not just myself, but the whole team – that I’m ready to compete at this level.
“It’s not yet there where I want it to be. Kind of late on the balls that I’m normally not late on. That’s the part which I guess comes with matches.
“As the tournament progresses, as I said, the more matches I have, the better the chance I’ll have to feel more comfortable moving around and gain that speed, agility, change of direction, that freedom that I’m looking for, really. I had it in certain moments today, certain moments in the first match, but then it’s still not there. In a way, it’s expected and normal when you come back from surgery, the body’s trying to understand what’s going on.
“Very early after surgery, already competing at the highest level on a surface that is, again, slippery. Kind of have to be careful with the way you move at times. But I’ll take this any day of the week, comparing to the pain that thankfully I’m not feeling. I’m not feeling the pain, but I’m struggling a little bit with movement. That’s fine. That’s something that is workable.
“I can work on it on a daily basis. But it’s going to have the biggest effect on matches. The more matches, the more of those type of situations I have, the better I will play and move.”
The true tests of Djokovic’s knee will be in the days off as this is when it goes through all the recovery processes.
However, Djokovic has said there’s no reason for people to worry as the knee has been responding well to rest.
“My knee has been responding really well in the days off, as well. I haven’t had any swelling, inflammation, so that’s great,” Djokovic scientifically analysed.
“The muscles around it are contracting and getting sore more than usual because they’re compensating and protecting the knee, which is normal. There’s more work on those muscles. Maybe because they are sore, they’re also not really giving me that kind of dynamic speed and power that I need and want to have.
“But it’s all part of the process on the opening days. As I said, first two, three matches is probably something that I have to accept as part of the process. Hopefully I can go through and then build from there.”
Djokovic will receive another test of his movement when he faces Alexei Popyrin on Saturday.
Ahead of the clash Djokovic knows the type of test he is up against as he bids to reach the last 16 once again.
“I saw he won in a five-set thriller today. Big serve. Big forehand. He loves that serve-plus-forehand play,” Djokovic said.
“We had a good match, very good match in Australia. I think he improved his backhand a lot and his movement. That was maybe not as good in the past. He’s becoming a very complete player. Tall guy. He’s not afraid to finish the point at the net.
“Yeah, if he serves well, it’s very tough to play. Anybody on the grass that serves as good as he serves… I guess one of the keys will be in that match how good I will be able to read his serves and get it back in play, make him work for his points. On my end, serve well as well. Let’s see. I’m expecting obviously a tough challenge.”
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Grigor Dimitrov compares playing Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon
Next up it’s time to hear from fan favourite Grigor Dimitrov as the Bulgarian survived a big scare to reach the third round.
The tenth seed came back from two sets down to defeat Juncheng Shang in five sets in a big battle.
After the contest Dimitrov said conditions and the opponent made it tough for him but praised his fighting qualities.
“It’s tough out there. It’s tricky. It’s not easy. Everybody is playing well,” Dimitrov sharply observed.
“Conditions are not easy, honestly. Maybe that’s one of the biggest things today. Yeah, playing on that court and trying to find a way around Jerry, it’s always a little bit… I always knew it was going to be tough clearly, but not to that extent. But I kept on believing in myself, in my body, in my fitness, and everything that I have put in throughout these past months. I tried to gather a lot more of that and move on. Obviously, of course, experience as well.
“Of course, you’re going to drift away at some point, but you need to recognize it. I think today I did that very well. Like at the times where I was not playing well or I caught myself that I was drifting a little bit or not taking the right decisions, I was recognizing it. So trying to keep on constantly reminding myself that I need to try to give myself the chance to put myself in good positions.
“I mean, last but not least, fight. That’s the only thing I can say from my game. As I said, I didn’t feel like I’ve played good tennis, but I felt like I was able to, yeah, dig myself out of the way that I was feeling out there on the court.”
It was a tough day at the office for Dimitrov but he came through and will be back on court again on Friday against Gael Monfils.
The most interesting part of Dimitrov’s press conference was when he was asked about the comparisons between playing Roger Federer and Djokovic at Wimbledon.
Dimitrov hinted that it was tougher to play Federer at Wimbledon although Djokovic’s overall qualities are tougher to play against on any surface.
“But for me, I don’t know, Roger was always able to take my time away on any surface,” Dimitrov recalled.
“But here I remember the time that I played him, it was just honestly nearly on every point. That makes you feel very uncomfortable on the court. It makes you go for shots that you’re not supposed to go and completely throws you off your game. I think when that happens, you’re in big trouble against every player, but especially against him.
“The match against Novak, it was, yeah, one of these matches that I’ve always remembered. Even I talk about it very often because it was one of those matches that I always wonder “What if?” I had set points I remember in the fourth set. It was a match that I think we both play a very high level, and the margins were so small.
“You see like I was more aware of that match. But yeah, against Roger I didn’t feel like I had maybe at the time also I think physically, I felt like I’ve developed a little bit later. That also felt like it was not leaning towards my favour against him.
“I mean, for me I always looked up to Roger always to the kind of players that have like a similar game in a sense. He’s, like, in my eyes, like a pioneer for me for the sport itself. Again, Novak is undoubtedly on paper, as you said, is the best ever on that end. He’s been able to do it even at later stage in his career. I think it’s more from athlete to an athlete I would say because there’s always going to be that debate, right, who is the best? Who is this? Who is that? That’s inevitable part.”
Fascinating insight from Dimitrov as he aims to go deep at this year’s tournament and fulfil his potential.
Ons Jabeur speaks about advantages and disadvantages of playing style
Next up it’s two-time finalist Ons Jabeur who set up a third round meeting with Elina Svitolina with a straight sets win over Robin Montgomery.
The Tunisian is hoping to break her Grand Slam drought after coming so close at the past two editions of Wimbledon.
Jabeur has a unique game style that works in her favour on Wimbledon but as the 29 year-old outlined there are disadvantages as well.
“Yeah, definitely my game has advantages and disadvantages,” Jabeur admitted.
“Obviously when you have a lot of options of hitting the ball, doing the dropshot or slicing, it’s a bit difficult. I think when I started, like, knowing exactly what I need to do in the right moments, that’s where my ranking went higher and became a top-10 player kind of.
“Yeah, the game of maybe Aryna or Elena, it’s easier and not think because she knows she has to rip the ball every time. Yeah, sometimes with the grass I think what helps is it’s not a slow surface, and it’s very, very fast.
“Sometimes the slices can really be annoying for most of the players. I think changing the rhythm, slicing, higher-speed ball could really bother any player, to be honest with you. That’s really an advantage for me. The fact that I know my ball could go faster really helps me also mentally during the match.”
Madison Keys speaks about benefits of sponsors at youth level
The final word goes to former Grand Slam finalist Madison Keys after the American defeated Yafan Wang in the second round.
After her match Keys detailed her path to being a tennis player and revealed without having sponsors from a young age, she wouldn’t be a tennis player.
“I was lucky enough to move to Florida when I was 10 to start training full-time,” Keys explained.
“I think it was maybe a year or two after I was at Evert full-time. They gave me a scholarship just because my family wouldn’t have been able to afford continuing to pay a full scholarship. So that kind of started everything.
“Then I had amazing sponsors from a really young age. At 14 I had Nike and Wilson, who signed me on, and I was able to earn enough money to kind of basically pay for my own career from that point. It was, honestly, the only reason that I’m sitting here just being able to have those opportunities given to me.
“I wouldn’t have been here had I not had that scholarship and then followed up with the sponsors that I’ve had.”
Keys is back in action on Friday against Marta Kostyuk.
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