Wimbledon: 'One of the most important tennis courts' - Novak Djokovic admits Centre Court nerves
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Updated 04/07/2023 at 08:13 GMT
Djokovic was a 6-3 6-3 7-6(5) winner over Pedro Cachin on the opening day of the 2023 tournament. The match faced a long delay after the first set due to rain falling in the area. Despite the Centre Court roof closing, the grass was still deemed unfit to play due to moisture on the surface. Djokovic will play Australian Jordan Thompson in the next round.
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Novak Djokovic started his Wimbledon title defence with a convincing win but said he is always full of nerves when he walks onto Centre Court.
He saw off Pedro Cachin in straight sets on the opening day of the tournament, in a match which was disrupted by rain despite the main arena at the All England Club having a roof.
After being a break of serve down in the first set, Djokovic was seen breathing heavily into his towel during a change of ends. The 23-time Grand Slam winner said he was “trying to get rid of the shadow that I had in my eyes from the sun.”
However, reporters questioned him further and asked if it as due to nerves.
“The nerves are always there, of course, because you are playing in front of the packed stadium in one of the most important tennis courts in the world. Regardless of the fact that I've had so much experience, so many matches on that court, I still feel nerves”, he said.
“I don't recall the last time I played an official tennis match anywhere, particularly in Grand Slams, where I didn't feel any nerves. It's normal to feel nerves. It's just a matter of how you adapt and obviously focus your attention on being productive to yourself.”
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Djokovic recovered from his early hiccup to take the first set 6-3, but play was then delayed for 80 minutes as rain fell at Wimbledon.
Despite the closed roof, there was still moisture on the surface, which staff tried to clear with leaf blowers.
“Both of us players wanted to come out. We did several times to show to the crowd that we want to play, we want to be there. But it was just too many places on the court which were too slippery and really moist. Touch the grass and your palm is completely wet”, he said.
“It was very strange that for more than an hour the situation was not changing at all for better. I think they're tracking right now. I think they will probably answer this question better for you, whether it's the air-conditioning system, it was quite humid, so that didn't help. Grass is such a sensitive surface for maintenance. It's definitely very challenging if you have, say, a minute or two more of rain than you need to.”
Djokovic played his part too, using his towel to try and wipe the grass dry - much to the enjoyment of the patient Centre Court crowd.
“We had fun with it. We received the good news that they will open the roof, then wind obviously did its job and dried the court. We came in and I tried to do something with the towel, just bring some I guess little bit of laughs and entertainment for the crowd”, he said.
When play resumed, Djokovic dispatched Cachin 6-3 6-3 7-6(5) and will face Jordan Thompson in the next round.
Speaking about his love of the Grand Slam, Djokovic said: “It's a feeling like no other tournament in the world of walking out on the Centre Court of Wimbledon as a defending champion, on the fresh grass. It's amazing, amazing to be back to a dream tournament, and to be able to get the first match out of the way. It was a solid performance.”
“I know I can always play better, but at the same time after a long clay court season, coming into Wimbledon without any preparation tournament, lead-up event, any official match on grass, it was kind of expected I still would probably not be in my 100% of the level of my tennis.”
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Stream daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm UK time, as well as the two singles finals live on July 15 and 16, on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com
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