Wimbledon: Judging with results I had in my career here, I do consider myself favourite, says Novak Djokovic

By India Today Sports Desk: Novak Djokovic is well aware that he has a target on his back as he pursues a record-extending 24th major title at this year’s Wimbledon. After securing a victory against Andrey Rublev in the quarter-finals, Djokovic confidently declared, “It ain’t happening!” during his on-court interview, in response to questions about his competitors’ efforts to halt his dominance.

Djokovic reiterated his belief in the post-match press conference, stating, “I don’t want to sound arrogant, but of course I would consider myself the favorite. Judging by the results I have achieved in my career here, having won Wimbledon four times previously, I do consider myself the favorite.”

In the semi-final on Friday, Djokovic will face off against Italian player Jannik Sinner, who stormed into his first major semi-final. Sinner will draw confidence from last year’s Wimbledon match where he took a two-set lead against Djokovic before the Serbian mounted a comeback to secure victory.

Djokovic has an impressive track record at Wimbledon, having not lost a match on Centre Court since the 2013 final. He currently enjoys a 33-match winning streak at The All England Club, with his last completed match defeat occurring in 2016 against Sam Querrey in the third round. If Djokovic triumphs at Wimbledon this year, he will tie Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles.

Despite his success at The Championships, Djokovic noted that he has been sliding less on the grass this year. He mentioned that as the tournament progresses, players tend to feel more comfortable moving on the grass. However, Djokovic emphasised that sliding is not always the best option on grass and that its effectiveness depends on various factors, such as the ball and the situation.

“I think as the tournament goes on, I think us players, we feel more comfortable moving on the grass. So for some of us, like Sinner, for example, and [Carlos] Alcaraz, they like to slide. I think you become more comfortable going for the slide,” Djokovic said. “Maybe at the beginning you feel like walking on eggs a little bit because the grass is also more slippery at the beginning, particularly if you play indoors under the roof.

“I think that this is the least that I was sliding on grass ever, to be honest. Whether that’s conscious or unconscious, I’m not really sure. I’m still yet trying to figure out. Sometimes sliding is not the best option on grass. Sometimes it is. It just depends on the ball and the situation.”