Although he enters Wimbledon at his equal-lowest Grand Slam seeding in eight years, nobody in the field knows what it takes to succeed at the All England Club quite like Novak Djokovic.
The seven-time champion is 44-3 on Wimbledon’s lawns dating back to 2018 and has not exited before the semifinals in that time. Those three losses have come against just two players – Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
Alcaraz, who beat Djokovic in the 2023 and 2024 finals, is absent from this year’s event. Defending champion Sinner enters Wimbledon for the first time without playing a lead-up tournament on grass and under a cloud after a startling second-round loss at Roland Garros.
There’s every chance Sinner, the world No.1 who beat Djokovic in last year’s semifinals, will rebound to triumph again at SW19. Yet he also hinted at some understandable burnout after exiting Roland Garros, having played 40 matches and won five Masters titles already in 2026.
By contrast, Djokovic has played just 13 matches this season and should be fresh as he begins his 21st Wimbledon campaign.
He enters chasing his first major title in almost three years; he won his 24th and most recent Grand Slam trophy at the 2023 US Open.
“I’m looking forward to it,” Djokovic told Sky Sports at the recent Barcelona F1 Grand Prix, where he waved the chequered flag. “I’m looking forward to the grass, not as much running required as on clay.”
Now aged 39, he will indeed appreciate a surface where points are generally quicker, his aggressive ball-striking is better rewarded, and his grasscourt nous separates him from a field where many players are either inexperienced or uncomfortable on the slick lawns.
That was not the case on the slower red clay in Paris, where Djokovic fell in a four-hour, 53-minute epic to Brazilian teen star Joao Fonseca. There were, however, positive signs for the 24-time Grand Slam champion that may bode well for Wimbledon.
“An incredible match to be part of,” Djokovic reflected after the 4-6 4-6 6-3 7-5 7-5 defeat. “Some amazing exchanges and points. He just found incredible shots, lines. It was just amazing from his side. Obviously not great for me to be facing a player playing in such level, but I don't think I've done too much wrong with my game.
“I think I was playing good tennis, really good level, considering I was injured for three months and trying to come back and then going pretty much straight into a Grand Slam on this surface that is very demanding and, for me, takes more time to get used to, to kind of find my groove.
“Taking everything in consideration and all the circumstances, I think the level was really good.”
His level was also good – make that excellent – at the Australian Open just a few months before that. There, Djokovic outplayed Sinner in an unforgettable five-set semifinal to progress to his 38th Grand Slam singles final.
“I wouldn't dare to call it ever, finest ever [performance], but definitely the finest in the last couple of years,” Djokovic declared at the time.
“When I started my preparations for the new season and kind of set the goals, it's no secret that Grand Slams are where I want to play my best tennis, but it becomes, I guess, more difficult for me to motivate myself, and I ask myself questions… what is it that I'm looking for from myself?
“I was imaging really playing against Jannik and Carlos at the final stages of Grand Slams this year and battling it out and really giving it all that I have.”
Djokovic won’t get the chance to face Alcaraz at Wimbledon, but due to his seventh seeding, he could meet Sinner as early as the quarterfinals.
We’ll see where Djokovic falls in the draw on Friday, but it’s worth remembering – as he’s shown us again in 2026 – that when fresh, fit and firing, he remains one of the sport’s most potent players.