WIMBLEDON — Novak Djokovic came through a practice match with Jannik Sinner on Centre Court on Thursday and said afterwards that he is “feeling good”.
When asked if he would be in Friday’s Wimbledon draw, Djokovic — a seven-time champion — gave a thumbs-up.
Djokovic appeared to be moving fine against Sinner just three weeks after having surgery on a torn meniscus.
He was last seen competing at the French Open on June 3 when he somehow beat Francisco Cerundolo despite suffering the knee injury in the second set of the match. A day later Djokovic pulled out of the tournament and had surgery in Paris the following day.
But against Sinner, the world No 1, on Thursday he didn’t appear to be in discomfort as the pair played for a set and a bit that lasted around 40 minutes. Sinner won the set and there were times when Djokovic was a little irritable, but afterwards he was in high spirits. He posed with his team and invited ground staff onto the court for a photo and to offer his thanks.
Djokovic was on Centre Court for around 40 minutes against Sinner on Thursday (Charlie Eccleshare/The Athletic)
Having trained at Wimbledon since Monday — interspersed with a trip to Germany to see Serbia take on Denmark in football’s European Championship — Djokovic appears ready for Wimbledon. He will be the No 2 seed, which means he can’t face Sinner until the final. The main point of interest for him in Friday’s draw will be whether reigning champion and world No 3 Carlos Alcaraz falls on his or Sinner’s half of the draw.
But just lining up on Monday or Tuesday for his first-round match will be some achievement given how recently he suffered what appeared to be a nasty injury. The tournament itself begins on Monday.
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(Clive Brunskill / Getty Images)