Taylor Fritz isn’t surprised that Novak Djokovic will compete in Wimbledon 2024. The tennis world buzzed when Djokovic’s knee injury at the French Open seemed to jeopardize his Wimbledon participation. However, Djokovic confirmed his return just three weeks post-surgery, raising eyebrows and expectations.
Fritz shared his thoughts on the Tennis Weekly Podcast, referencing his own experience with a similar injury. He explained, “You have full strength immediately. You never lost full strength. It’s just about recovering from the actual surgery itself, not any muscular thing. So I’m not surprised.”
Djokovic suffered a medial meniscus injury during his round of 16 match at Roland Garros. Fritz, who endured the same issue in 2021, noted the similarities. “I know for a fact my first match at Wimbledon was exactly 20 days after my surgery,” Fritz said, highlighting that Djokovic had even more recovery time.
Fritz extended his support to Djokovic, sharing insights from his own recovery. “I told him what it was like for me. A lot of it comes down to the inflammation and how you react. As long as you can get that down and start playing without it puffing up again, you’re actually going to be fine to play,” Fritz remarked.
Fritz also expressed admiration for Djokovic. In an ATP Tour video, Fritz said, “Fairytale story… hopefully me! I mean obviously to win. If I beat Novak for the first time somewhere in there, I think that’s probably fairytale stuff.”
Fritz’s comments highlight the grueling schedules and physical challenges players face. As Djokovic prepares for Wimbledon, the tennis community watches with anticipation, expecting another stellar performance from the former world number one.
