Novak Djokovic’s 2024 season was thrown into serious doubt when he, after battling back from two sets to one down in the French Open against Francisco Cerundolo, announced the injury he had sustained.
The Serbian superstar had torn the medial meniscus in his right knee, and faced a race to now be fit for Wimbledon.
As one of the tournament’s most decorated participants, having won it seven times, were he to have added another to his trophy cabinet this summer, he would have moved alongside Roger Federer as its greatest-ever champion with eight titles.
However, that now seemed an afterthought, with a far more worrying threat looming just beyond the Grand Slam: Missing the Olympics.
Novak Djokovic injury update emerges
The Olympics remains the one outstanding title that still eludes Djokovic, and at 37 years of age, this will likely be his final chance.
As he grows older, competition from a young, hungry generation intensifies, making this an all-or-nothing campaign in Paris this summer.
Naturally, many therefore assumed that he would skip Wimbledon purely to avoid any potential risks or complications he might suffer on the grass in SW19.
That was, until BBC Sport reported the opposite, writing: ‘Novak Djokovic has decided to travel to Wimbledon and is due to arrive on Monday – but the seven-time champion does not yet know if he will be able to compete after undergoing knee surgery.
‘The 37-year-old had surgery in Paris just 17 days ago, but wants to give himself the best possible chance of playing by practising at the All England Club.’
Novak Djokovic desperately wants more Wimbledon titles
It seems that, along with winning his first Olympic gold medal, Djokovic seemingly is not willing to forego his chance to make Wimbledon history either.
Perhaps this greed could come back to bite him at both events, but to write off the 24-time Grand Slam champion would be foolish. He has defied greater odds than these before, but the added pressure of time could make him crack on this occasion.
After all, he is running out of it, despite last year being an ageless season of miraculous success.
Winning three of the four Grand Slam titles and only losing the other in the final, this year has been quite the opposite, and we are actually yet to see Djokovic reach a final in any level event.
It would mark a long shot for him to expect to cruise to either of the two titles he seeks, but in doing so he would likely cement his status as tennis’ indisputable greatest of all time.
That desperate search for such a legacy might be enough to force him through the pain to victory.
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