'History on the line' - Novak Djokovic on 'pressure and expectation' of chance to equal Roger Federer's Wimbledon record

Published 13/07/2024 at 13:41 GMT

There are few records left in tennis for Novak Djokovic to chase, but the 24-time major winner has the chance to equal Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon men's singles titles on Sunday. Djokovic said "history is on the line" when he faces Carlos Alcaraz for the trophy, but admitted it brings "a lot of pressure and expectation." However, the Serbian believes SW19 "extracts the best of me."

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Novak Djokovic said “history is on the line” when he faces Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, but he admitted the chance to equal Roger Federer’s record brings “a lot of pressure and expectation.”

The world No. 2 holds an unmatched 24 men's Grand Slam trophies but has the chance to draw level with Federer as Wimbledon’s most successful male player on Sunday.

Victory over Alcaraz would secure an eighth SW19 crown for the 37-year-old Serbian, but he must dethrone the reigning champion to earn it.

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“Obviously I'm aware that Roger holds eight Wimbledon (titles). I hold seven. History is on the line. Also, the 25th potential Grand Slam,” Djokovic said.

“Of course, it serves as a great motivation, but at the same time, it's also a lot of pressure and expectation.

“Every time I step out on the court now, even though I'm 37 and competing with 21-year-olds, I still expect myself to win most of the matches, and people expect me to win, whatever, 99% of the matches that I play.

“I always have to come out on the court and perform my best in order to still be at a level with Carlos, Jannik [Sinner] or Sascha [Zverev] or any of those guys, Daniil [Medvedev].”

Djokovic’s bid for Wimbledon glory this year has been remarkable, considering he underwent a knee operation just three weeks before the tournament began.

The Serbian suffered a torn meniscus during his fourth-round win over Francisco Cerundolo at the French Open, but pulled off an astonishing recovery from surgery to reach yet another major final.

Djokovic admitted it hasn’t been his easiest season, as he is yet to win a singles title in 2024, but that build-up doesn’t concern him too much ahead of Sunday’s final.

“This year hasn't been that successful for me. It's probably the weakest results in the first six months I've had in many years,” he said.

“That's okay. I had to adapt and accept that and really try to find also find a way out from the injury that I had and kind of regroup.

“At Wimbledon, historically, there have been seasons where I wasn't maybe playing at a desired level, but then I would win a Wimbledon title and then things would change.

“For example, that was the case in 2018 when I had elbow surgery earlier in the year, dropped my rankings out of the top 20, losing in the fourth round of the Australian Open, I think it was the quarters of Roland-Garros, and just not playing the tennis that I want to play.

"Then I won Wimbledon and then the US Open and then later on became No. 1 very soon.

“Wimbledon just extracts the best of me and motivates me to really always show up and perform the best I can.

“Of course, I'm aware of what's on the line. It always is really. Any Grand Slam that I play, there's always history now on the line. I will try to use that as a fuel to play my best tennis.”

Alcaraz is bidding to defend his Wimbledon crown and win a second major title in a row after his triumph at Roland-Garros last month.

The 21-year-old also said it could be a “really good day for Spanish people” with the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England following his clash with Djokovic.

But Djokovic said that whatever the result on Centre Court, he expects Alcaraz’s success to continue as the years go on.

“I'm not sure if I'm going to break his heart. I'm not intending to do that,” Djokovic said. “He's so young, but still has three Grand Slams already under his belt and going for his fourth.

“He surprised I think all of us last year the way he played in Queen's and Wimbledon, which he won back-to-back.

“You would think that for someone growing up in Spain, as he did, the way he's playing, clay court, Grand Slam win, which happened this year at Roland-Garros, and US Open a few years ago was maybe not as surprising as Wimbledon.

“But the way he has moved, played the last couple of years on grass has been terrific to watch, to be honest.

“I see a lot of similarities between me and him in terms of the ability to adapt and adjust to the surface.

"I think that's probably his biggest trait, is that he's got skills to play equally well on any surface and to adapt to a given opponent that particular day.

“He's a very all-around player, very complete player. It's impressive what he has done for such a young age. I said on the court, which I think probably all of us share the same opinion, that he's going to win many Slams in his career.

“I hope he's going to give me this one in two days, and let's see! After that I'll cheer for him.”

Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 13 and 14, on discovery+

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