It is summer, late June and at Wimbledon, of course, the freshly cut grass already gives off that heady whiff that proclaims the return: after the forced cancellation of last year, the
British
major
, the tournament of tournaments for many fans and players who have fallen into your aristocratic persuasive nets, walk again.
And there Novak Djokovic parades with a firm step and a well swollen chest, because after all he, the number one, the tennis player who has taken the first two greats of the course and who comes launched after giving a thunderous blow on the table at Roland Garros, will be the main round to follow during the next days in the 19th arrondissement.
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'The three arms of Nole', by TONI NADAL
From Paris to Paris, the happy rebirth of Djokovic
In other circumstances, today, the start of the tournament, there would surely be talk of the preponderance of Roger Federer and his delicacies on the grass, but times have changed. Now, the Swiss faces the appointment in his garden surrounded by questions and with a rather low spirits. His goal, he says, is to reach the second week, and from there it will be seen. That is, everything is different. The king goes to slipstream, Nole intimidates and the rest, those young people who are taking shape and begin to show their fangs definitively, trust in that margin of unpredictability that
green tennis
grants
, only suitable for the brave and given like none to the chimes. This is Wimbledon, certainties are rare.
In any case, this edition begins with those provided by Djokovic's layout this year, from notch to notch the Balkan at 34 years: trophy in Melbourne, trophy in Paris and 19 grand. Only one behind the record shared by Federer (39) and Rafael Nadal (35), the one in the doldrums, the other recovering from the effort made on the clay court tour and listening to his body, which invited him to pause and, incidentally, to reflection on tomorrow. Therefore, Nole finds himself before a desired scenario to continue giving free rein to his voracity, because he wants everything. And everything is everything.
"The level of confidence is high," he acknowledged in the media attention session.
"I have won the two Grand Slams this year and I played very well in Paris, although that tournament also meant me physically and emotionally," said the Belgrade, five-time Wimbledon champion and winner in three of the last six editions, in the last two passages.
"I love this place.
When I was a child I dreamed of winning here and playing on this track gives me goosebumps ”, he extended before the journalists without forgetting, to himself, the episode a couple of years ago, when the English stands were completely overturned with Federer in that impressive final.
2021 ___________ ✍️ # Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/01MUxv9Qm7
- Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2021
That day, Federer wasted two match balls that, had he converted, would have earned him his 21st major title and an oxygen ball that he now demands more than ever. “I never thought that I would play until 40, much less with the last operations I have had. But I still love tennis, I enjoy it. We will see what happens here and if the results arrive or not. For this reason, this Wimbledon is very important for me ”, admits the one from Basel, who will debut tomorrow against the Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. Today, on the other side of the table –then they would collide until a hypothetical final–, the Serbian opens before the local Jack Draper (14.30, Movistar).
“Right now I have 19 grand, so I know what the prospect is of being 19, but not of being 20. Hopefully I can find out in a few weeks ... The Grand Slam is the biggest motivation I have at this stage of my career. I want to take advantage of these tournaments to reach greater heights, playing my best tennis. That's how it has been during my last year and a half, and that's how it will be until the end of my career ”, he recalls while from the sidelines also awaiting the answer that more and more consolidated alternatives can give such as Daniil Medvedev - winner in the Mallorca preparatory -, Stefanos Tsitsipas –finalist at Roland Garros– or the German Alexander Zverev –every time sharper.
“Young people are here to try to stop him, to try to prevent his dream [to win the Golden Slam: the four
majors
and the Olympic gold in the same season].
It will be difficult, but we are hungry ”, warns the Greek Tsitsipas, who won two sets two weeks ago in Paris, the scene of another acceleration in the great historical three-way battle.
In any case, Wimbledon takes off this Monday with an inevitable signal in the men's box: Can someone with the inflated Djokovic?
Check the
Results of the day
/
Order of play
for Monday.
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