The famous Italian tennis player Adriano Panatta has declared that Novak Djokovic’s physical state going into the 2024 Wimbledon Championships is “a major unknown.”
The former world No. 4 said Djokovic could be “bluffing” about his latest knee surgery and injuries. The Serbian great has been the target of severe criticism in recent years.
After rupturing the medial meniscus in his right knee at the French Open last month, Djokovic had surgery, and many people assumed he would miss Wimbledon.
The 37-year-old, nevertheless, miraculously recovered in time to participate at the All England Club, where he is going for an eighth title that would tie the record.
Following wins over Vit Kopriva and Jacob Fearnley, the 24-time Grand Slam winner will take on world No. 47 Alexei Popyrin in today’s third round match at Wimbledon.
While acknowledging the threat the great tennis player poses at Wimbledon, Panatta asked concerns concerning Djokovic’s condition and his surgery in an interview with Libero Quotidiano.
Panatta remarked, “Let’s say there’s a great mystery about him.” “How is he actually doing? Is he playing a bluff? And his knee, which was just operated on?
“Although he’s hardly the ‘Djoker’ of old, at 37, I would never trust someone who had won seven titles on Center Court with my racket.”
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, according to the former French Open winner, are the two obvious favorites at Wimbledon.
Panatta said, “He (Sinner) is the favorite against everybody except Alcaraz.”
These are the two pinnacles of modern tennis, wherein other great players who are not champions swim.
“Those two who are a step above the rest of the players cannot be ignored at the present leveling.” The Spaniard has a little bit more in a one-off game, but Jannik will be more reliable throughout the course of his career.
Panatta also criticized Sinner and Matteo Berrettini’s Italian derby, which took place in the Wimbledon second round.
On the La Telefonata podcast, he stated, “Technically, it wasn’t so fantastic, but it was a great game from an emotional point of view.” “The game of the century is something I read about, but it goes too far as usual.
“They’ve both made a lot of careless errors, and I don’t believe Sinner makes that many errors on a regular basis. He nearly gives off the impression that he is astonished that he did not perform at his best yesterday, even in light of Matteo Berrettini’s talents.
“I think both are capable of more. Considering the matches he has played against Djokovic and Alcaraz in the past, Jannik Sinner has likely performed at a level below his capabilities. Although Berrettini is back in control of the service, it functions worse than it did three years ago.
“With training and the games he lacks, he may make up for this and develop his game. Its movement doesn’t persuade me, and it has to work on the opposite as well.
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