Djokovic feels pressure ease for Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic feels “liberated” by the reduced expectations surrounding his prospects for Wimbledon.
The Serbian won his first match at the Aegon International at Eastbourne yesterday, defeating Canada’s Vasek Pospisil 6-4 6-3 in 85 minutes amid his preparation for the grand slam which starts on Monday.
Inconsistent form over the past 12 months has resulted in Djokovic losing his grip on all four of the sport’s majors and the appointment of Andre Agassi as his coach, as well as a change from his pre-Wimbledon routine.
His presence for the first time at Eastbourne represents his first participation in an official grass-court competition between the French Open and Wimbledon since 2010.
It is also an obvious attempt by the three-time Wimbledon champion to strengthen his chances a year after he failed to retain his All England Club title, and he said: “It is liberating a bit.
“I was very fortunate and privileged to have so much success in the last eight, nine years, and kind of entered most of the tournaments as one of the biggest favourites. So for a change it’s good to not be one of the top favourites.
“It releases a bit of the pressure. It’s always there. You still feel it. It’s part of what I do. And what I have achieved so far has added to those expectations.
“I try to lower those expectations myself, because I really want to as much as I can, in this stage of my life and career, be in the moment and trying to focus only on what comes up next, which doesn’t mean that I don’t want to win the trophies.”
Djokovic, ranked fourth in the world, was seeded at number two by Wimbledon organisers.
“I want to thank Wimbledon for getting me two spots ahead than I’m actually ranked,” he said. “It’s probably due to also the good results I have had in the last three, four years in Wimbledon.
“Whether it helps or not, I can’t say at the moment. It doesn’t make too much of a difference other than I’m not going to potentially meet Andy (Murray) in semis rather than finals, but it’s too far away. As I said, I don’t see myself as one of the top few favourites.
“I’m glad that I’m one of the top four seeds, which is important, in a way, but whether I’m two, three, four, it’s not a significant difference.”
Defending champion Andy Murray has been seeded number one at Wimbledon for the first time.
The world number one, who beat Milos Raonic to win the title for the second time in 2016, leads a top four of Djokovic, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Federer is ranked fifth but his ninth title in Halle last week was enough to earn him the number three seeding ahead of Nadal, who has struggled on grass in recent years.
British No 1 Johanna Konta – seeded sixth for Wimbledon – progressed in the women’s singles at Eastbourne, beating Romania’s Sorana Cirstea 6-2 6-2.