Novak Djokovic making surprisingly quick return to action as Wimbledon decision is confirmed

Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has been weighing up whether he will play at Wimbledon and now his decision has been confirmed.

The seven-time Wimbledon champion underwent knee surgery on June 5, after a knee injury forced him to pull out of the French Open.

Playing at the All England Club seemed impossible at that point, but now it has been confirmed that Djokovic will play and he is also playing an exhibition match on Friday as he steps up his recovery.

Djokovic will take on Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the Giorgio Armani Tennis Classic at the Hurlingham Club, one of the prestigeous pre-Wimbledon events that take place in the week before The Championships.

Confirmation that Djokovic is playing a competitive match on Friday confirms his remarkable recovery from knee surgery is on track, with former British No 1 Laura Robson telling Tennis365 that his return to action in such swift fashion would be remarkable.

“Honestly, it would be a miracle if he plays,” Robson told Tennis365 in an exclusive interview.

“I remember Taylor Fritz had a similar situation where he had surgery on his knee and played Wimbledon three weeks later and ended up doing pretty well, all things considered, but he is ten years younger and I’m sure things get harder at the age of 37.

“I would be shocked if he plays a best-of-five match, but this is Novak. If he is in the draw and he feels like he can have a good run at it, then you can’t rule him out.

“He had not had his best season, but we have seen him have periods where his form dips and then he comes back and wins again. That is what Djokovic has done throughout his career.

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“Novak will only play at Wimbledon if he believes he can win and he is always going to be a threat whenever he is in the draw. He is Djokovic for a reason.

“At this stage of his career and when he has won everything there is to win, there would be zero point in going through the motions.

“He could be at home and literally doing anything else in his life, but he is at Wimbledon this week and he is seeing what he can do. He would not be here unless he believed he could have a big chance of winning.”

Djokovic has confirmed he will only enter Wimbledon if he believes he can win, so this decision suggests he believes he is close to full fitness.

“I didn’t come here to play a few rounds,” he told BBC Sport.

“If I know I can play close to my maximum or at maximum, then I’ll play. If not, then I’ll give somebody else a chance to play.

“I really will only play if I know I am in a state which is good enough to go far in the tournament and fight for the title, so that’s the condition.

“Rehab is going in the right direction every single day, a few per cent better and better. That’s what’s giving me hope and encouragement to keep going.

“I’m taking things gradually. I’m not pushing myself yet 100 per cent but I’m hoping that’s going to come in the next few days.”