Wimbledon’s draw is set to take place this Friday for the Grand Slam officially commencing on Monday, June 29th, and concluding on July 12th. Jannik Sinner is anticipated to be a strong favorite once again, provided he can overcome the physical challenges encountered at Roland-Garros. Carlos Alcaraz will be absent due to a wrist injury, while Alexander Zverev is participating after his maiden Grand Slam appearance followed by a diabetes alert.
What about Novak Djokovic? The 39-year-old Serbian, a seven-time Wimbledon champion, is expected to compete. He has limited his appearances, not having played since his third-round defeat to Joao Fonseca on May 29th at Roland-Garros. However, his withdrawal from the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic, an exhibition match where he was scheduled to face Karen Khachanov on Wednesday, has caused unease among fans. Martin Damm Jr. replaced him at the last minute.
The Serbian, now ranked eighth in the world, has not provided a reason for his absence from this event. Nevertheless, he was seen practicing today, Thursday, with Sinner. This sighting suggests that all is well and that Djokovic simply preferred not to risk playing a match and potentially compromising his training. Some fans are expressing panic, but with the draw scheduled for Friday, June 26th, it won’t be long before we know if Djokovic will indeed participate in the tournament.