Former American Tennis player Pam Shriver believes Novak Djokovic will have to find a way to win Wimbledon. The legendary player said that Djokovic would not want Rafael Nadal to have three Grand slams more than him and he will look to bring his best at SW19.
The American also tipped the Serbian as the favorite for Wimbledon. Djokovic has won the last three Wimbledon championships and he has won on six occasions. The 35-year-old could not participate in the Australian Open due to his vaccination issues and then lost to Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinal of the Roland-Garros.
Djokovic will look to be at his best and he can meet Spain Carlos Alcaraz in the potential quarterfinal at Wimbledon.
“He is my favorite to win,” Shriver said of Djokovic’s Wimbledon chances. “Playing grass for him is a different ball game compared to clay. He has the hunger and desire to do well. “He won’t want Nadal to go three Grand Slams ahead of him after defeat in France and the debacle in Australia earlier this year.
“I think he’ll find a way to win, he’s my number one pick. His movement on grass is unbelievable, he’s learned how to be a bigger server on grass, and he’s still the best returner in the game.
However, Djokovic didn’t play any pre-tournament before the all-important Wimbledon.
“I wish he played a pre-tournament warm-up, but I have a feeling that after all the clay-court tournaments he played in the spring, he must have felt like he was running on empty after the quarter-final defeat in the French Open.”
There is no doubt that Djokovic will be one of the favorites at Wimbledon but he would face a tough challenge from Matteo Berrettini and Rafael Nadal. Djokovic could face either of these two players in the final of the championship.
The Serbian will begin his Wimbledon campaign against South Korea’s Kwon Soon-woo on Monday.