Djokovic missed a big opportunity, but not the biggest one

It is difficult to assess all of this with Wimbledon in mind as well, but it is considerably easier than it was for the French Open.

Wimbledon Championships is not as physically demanding, and the seven titles that Novak Djokovic has won at the All England Club provide an additional boost.

“That’s because of the results I’ve achieved there, because of how I feel and how I play at Wimbledon. I get an extra mental boost and motivation to play my best tennis at the highest level,” Djokovic said in London last year.

If he can raise his level just a little from what he showed this week in Paris, he will be extremely difficult to beat.

There is also the well-known saying that “nobody but Novak knows how to play on grass.” It may be difficult to defend that claim entirely, but there is certainly something special about the way he performs on that surface.

Novak is remarkably adaptable to different surfaces and playing conditions. In the latter stage of his career, he has also significantly improved his serve, turning it into a major weapon.

As for his return of serve—his trademark throughout his entire career—it hardly needs mentioning. When he neutralizes a big serve with a deep return at his opponent’s feet, the opponent is immediately put under pressure and forced into a defensive position.

There is also his reliability at the net, movement, defensive skills, and even his ability to slide on grass, something that is far from common on that surface.

Many will say that all of this is true, but that Jannik Sinner will be at Wimbledon again, and he has been the dominant force in recent times.

However, it is worth remembering that Djokovic and Sinner have met three times in London at the Wimbledon Championships. Djokovic won the first two encounters, while Sinner claimed the most recent one, in last season’s semifinal.

It also remains to be seen how Jannik Sinner will respond after everything that happened to him in Paris.

It was not just the heat, as the Italian himself acknowledged. Much of it appeared to be psychological—pressure, expectations, and the mental strain of the occasion. Those issues could potentially have longer-term effects as well.

Even if Sinner returns to his usual level, Novak Djokovic showed in Australia earlier this year that he is still capable of causing him serious problems.

A great deal can happen in London at the Wimbledon Championships, and Djokovic certainly should not be written off.

On the contrary, there is every reason to believe that a 25th Grand Slam title remains within reach.