Why Wimbledon is Djokovic’s best chance to win 25th Grand Slam?

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New Delhi: ‘Pressure is a privilege’ The words often repeated by Novak Djokovic throughout his career capture exactly why Wimbledon feels like home for the 24-time Grand Slam champion. Pressure is not something he runs from; it is the air he breathes when he steps on Centre Court, where the quiet tension of the grass and the history wrapped in its white lines seem to bring out the best in him. At 38, as he returns to chase a record-breaking 25th Slam, Wimbledon remains the stage where Djokovic’s hunger, belief, and defiance of age come alive, once more.

Djokovic, when he walked off Court Philippe-Chatrier after losing to Jannik Sinner, paused and acknowledged the crowd with eyes filled with tears and touched the surface before walking out. He later mentioned it could have been his last match at Roland Garros. Even if that’s the case, the Serbian has won everything tennis has to offer.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has definitely had a patchy season so far, but he continues to be a dominant force in the Grand Slams. He has still produced many extraordinary performances, defeating Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January.

Though last month he lost to Sinner in straight sets in the French Open semifinals, the way he pushed the World No. 1 still shows the fire he holds as he continues to defy age. This time, the 38-year-old won’t be just bidding for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon men’s title, levelling with Roger Federer, but also a 25th Slam to go clear of Australia’s Margaret Court.

Wimbledon legacy

Djokovic has won the Challenge Cup seven times. He first claimed the trophy in 2011, then won it back-to-back in 2014 and 2015. In the last six years, he has been a finalist every time (cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), winning in 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. He has lost both finals in the last two years to Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz.

In fact, last year the 38-year-old’s right knee was strapped heavily, but he managed to reach the SW19 final, though he lost in straight sets to Alcaraz. His run to the final was still prestigious in many ways, clearly indicating how the tournament could shape up this year in the men’s singles event.

Wimbledon my best chance…

Novak Djokovic believes Wimbledon gives him the best chance to claim the 25th Grand Slam title. He has a strong belief that he can disrupt his young rivals’ dominance and finally end the two-year drought in his chase for the 25th Slam.

His last major triumph came at the September 2023 US Open. Since then, the young guns Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have split the six Grand Slams between them. He will play France’s Alexander Muller in the first round. Djokovic has lost his last two Wimbledon finals to Alcaraz, and when he was asked about winning his 25th major, he said, “I would probably agree that Wimbledon could be the best chance.”

Djokovic added, “That’s because of the results I have had, because of how I feel and how I play in Wimbledon. I get an extra push mentally and motivation to perform the best tennis at the highest level.”

The Serbian also emphasised that chasing young rivals has not changed his mentality. He said, “In a sense, you’re always hunting because you’re always going for the titles – in my also privileged position – the records and more history.”

Djokovic has an attitude of trying to win rather than trying to defend, as he no longer stands in the queue of chasing the rankings. The man who continues to enjoy tennis like a kid will give his best shot to add another accolade to his folklore. Will he be able to script the history of winning 25 in 2025? Well, only time will tell, but one thing is certain: as he steps onto the grass once again, Djokovic will remind the world why, for him, the pressure is a privilege and why Wimbledon remains the place where he puts on a show worth remembering.