Novak Djokovic Confident of Wimbledon Success Despite Limited Match Practice

Posted : 28 June 2026

Novak Djokovic has expressed confidence ahead of Wimbledon, insisting he is in better physical condition than he was for the French Open despite playing very little competitive tennis in recent months.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion heads into the tournament after an early exit at Roland Garros, where he suffered a surprise third-round defeat to Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca in a gruelling five-set encounter.

Before the French Open, Djokovic had played only one ATP Tour event following his return from a shoulder injury. He was beaten in his opening match at the Italian Open by Dino Prizmic and later admitted that entering Roland Garros with so little match practice proved too great a challenge.

Instead of competing in the traditional grass-court warm-up tournaments, Djokovic chose to play only an exhibition match at the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at Hurlingham before travelling to the All England Club.

The 39-year-old believes that decision has left him in a stronger position for Wimbledon, where he will begin his campaign against China's Wu Yibing.

"I think I'm better prepared here than I was for Roland Garros," Djokovic said. "Playing on grass doesn't require the same physical effort as clay, and I've always loved playing on this surface."

He added that his outstanding record at Wimbledon gives him extra belief heading into the tournament.

"I have a very good history here, and that gives me a higher dose of confidence coming into the tournament," he explained.

Reflecting on his French Open campaign, Djokovic said the demanding nature of his matches took a physical toll, although he remained proud of the effort he produced.

"Roland Garros was physically very demanding," he said. "I lost against an opponent almost 20 years younger than me, but I fought until the end. The result wasn't what I wanted, but the effort was there."

Djokovic revealed that Wimbledon had always been the primary target during his recovery from the shoulder injury that sidelined him for several months. He accepted that arriving at the French Open without enough competitive matches made success difficult but believed the experience would help his preparations for the grass-court major.

"I was planning to peak at Wimbledon after the shoulder injury," he said. "I knew going almost straight into Roland Garros without official matches would be very difficult."

With 24 Grand Slam singles titles already to his name, Djokovic will once again be among the favourites at the All England Club. His experience on grass and impressive Wimbledon record could prove decisive as he looks to add another major title despite concerns over his limited match preparation.

Novak Djokovic Confident of Wimbledon Success Despite Limited Match Practice

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