Djokovic battles to save legacy of Wimbledon's golden generation

LONDON — Novak Djokovic is poised to mount a one-man battle to preserve the legacy of Wimbledon's golden generation in the face of an increasingly successful new wave, spearheaded by Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

However, the odds will be stacked against the seven-time champion and holder of 24 Grand Slam titles when the tournament gets underway on Monday.

Arriving in London having recently undergone knee surgery, the 37-year-old Serb, runner-up to Alcaraz last year, has seen his Grand Slam powers fade in 2024.

He was succeeded as Australian Open champion by Sinner, with the Italian also usurping him as world No 1.

Djokovic then saw his French Open crown pass to Alcaraz after he limped out of Paris, suffering from a torn meniscus in his right knee.

If Djokovic equals Roger Federer's record of eight Wimbledon titles, he would become the oldest champion of the modern era.

"I have this incredible desire to play, just to compete," said Djokovic who will take on 123rd-ranked Vit Kopriva of the Czech Republic in his opener on Tuesday.

"Just the thought of missing Wimbledon was not right."

With Federer now retired, Rafael Nadal skipping the tournament to focus on the Paris Olympics and Andy Murray playing in the aftermath of a back operation, there is definitely change in the air in southwest London.

Germany's world No 4 Alexander Zverev on Saturday predicted this year's Wimbledon will be the "most open in 20 years".

The likelihood is that, for the first time since 2002, the men's final on July 14 will not feature at least one of the 'Big Four' who have swept up 19 of the last 20 titles.

Alcaraz, at 21 — 16 years Djokovic's junior — is already a three-time major winner.

'Big challenge'

He captured the US Open in 2022 while still a teenager, defeated Djokovic in a five-set final at Wimbledon in 2023, before seeing off Zverev in another five-setter at the French Open last month.

Alcaraz, who opens Centre Court action on Monday against 262nd-ranked Mark Lajal of Estonia, has a chance to complete a rare French Open-Wimbledon double in the same season.

"I know that it's going to be a really difficult and big challenge for me, but I think I'm ready to do it," said the Spaniard.

Sinner, 22, made the semifinals at Wimbledon last year and celebrated his first grass-court title at Halle last month.

The top-seeded Italian has racked up four titles in 2024, losing just three of 41 matches. He faces Germany's Yannick Hanfmann in his Monday opener.

Wimbledon will also bid an emotional farewell to two-time champion Murray.

The 37-year-old Scot, who famously ended Britain's 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men's champion with his 2013 victory, plans to bow out at the Olympics.

He is due to face 38th-ranked Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic on Tuesday, but whether he makes it onto court is still questionable.

Record number

With a record number of 11 main-draw entries and a men's player seeded for the first time, Chinese tennis is celebrating its biggest ever presence at Wimbledon, as the tennis boom inspired by Li Na's groundbreaking major wins keeps paying dividends.

Zhang Zhizhen, seeded 32nd, will lock horns with French qualifier Maxime Janvier in the first round. It is the first time for a Chinese man to be seeded in a major tournament. Zhang's teenage compatriot Shang Juncheng is slated to face former world top 20 player Cristian Garin of Chile.

In the women's event, China's eighth seed Zheng Qinwen will face qualifier Lulu Sun of New Zealand.

Zheng's best result at Wimbledon was a third-round finish in 2022.She has enjoyed a fast-track rise since turning pro in 2022, reaching the quarterfinals in last year's US Open, before advancing to the final of this year's Australian Open.

World No 1 Iga Swiatek, fresh from a fourth French Open title and fifth Grand Slam title, arrives on a 19-match win streak.

The 23-year-old Pole's best run at Wimbledon was a quarterfinal spot in 2023.

Swiatek faces 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round.

US Open champion and world No 2 Coco Gauff made her breakthrough at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old qualifier in 2019, when she made the last 16.

She also pushed through to the fourth round in 2021, but has a point to prove after a first round exit to American compatriot Kenin in 2023.

Gauff starts against compatriot Caroline Dolehide, ranked 52nd.

Third-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, the Australian Open champion and a semifinalist at Wimbledon in 2021 and 2023, said she is still not "100 percent certain" of playing.

AFP - China Daily