Wimbledon 2024: Knee not an issue as Novak Djokovic storms into 2nd round

Novak Djokovic eased concerns over his knee with a clinical performance in the first round of Wimbledon 2024. Four weeks after undergoing minor knee surgery, the World No. 2 defeated World No. 123 Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 58 minutes at the Center Court. Djokovic was moving freely on the court even though he was wearing a brace on his knee on Tuesday, July 2 in London.

Novak Djokovic said he focused on the game and not on his knee during the first-round match. The Serb’s clinical show was an early marker and a message to the competitors in Wimbledon. Having not won a title yet on the tour, Djokovic looked like he was ready to play without any pressure. The 24-time Grand Slam champion did not put a foot wrong during the first-round match.

Wimbledon 2024: Full Coverage

Novak Djokovic broke in the sixth game of the opening set and breezed through it. The Serb piled up pressure early on Vit Kopriva in the second set and let out a huge roar after a 21-shot rally went his way. Djokovic grabbed another break after the rally and dominated the second set. Vit Kopriva came out swinging in the third set, but Djokovic was at his very best to fend off the threat and complete a straight-set victory.

“It was very good. I felt good on the court. Coming into Wimbledon this year was a bit of a different circumstance for me because of the knee. I didn’t really know how it would all unfold. I am just extremely glad the way I felt and the way I played,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview.

It was Novak Djokovic’s first match since pulling out of the French Open quarter-final due to a knee injury. The television cameras certainly had more close-ups of Djokovic’s knee than anything else in the match.

Djokovic expressed his love for Wimbledon, saying he wouldn’t have played 4 weeks after a knee surgery had it been any other tournament.

“I just tried to really focus on the game and not really think too much about the knee. Everything I could possibly do, I have done with my team in order to give myself a chance to be here. If it was for any other tournament, I probably wouldn’t have risked it, or rushed it. I love Wimbledon that much,” Djokovic said, getting a huge round of cheers from the Centre Court crowd.

Djokovic, who is bidding to win his eighth Wimbledon crown, will next face the winner of a first-round match between qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas and local wildcard Jacob Fearnley.