“A great blow to the tournament,” Novak Djokovic expresses disappointment over Andy Murray’s withdrawal from Wimbledon Singles

Djokovic and Murray both made last-minute decisions to feature in the Wimbledon main draw.

“A great blow to the tournament,” Novak Djokovic expresses disappointment over Andy Murray’s withdrawal from Wimbledon Singles

Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic (via Imago)

Seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic expressed his disappointment after the withdrawal of two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray from the Men’s Singles draw. The Scottish legend will now participate in Men’s Doubles, teaming up with his brother Jamie Murray.

In the Men’s Singles draw Murray was originally set to face Tomas Machac on Tuesday. Following Djokovic’s straight-set victory over Vit Kopriva, he addressed the situation during the post-match press conference.

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It's tough, you feel helpless that something is not allowing you to do what you love the most. Andy Murray withdrawing is a great blow to the tournament, it's unfortunate. Great respect to him for what he has done in this tournament and this sport.
Novak Djokovic said in his post-match press conference [H/T: Eurosport]

Both Djokovic and Murray made last-minute decisions to make themselves available for the Men’s Singles draw. Djokovic had been recovering from a meniscus injury sustained during the fourth round of Roland Garros.

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Meanwhile, Murray had been attempting to recover from a spinal cord injury suffered during his Round of 16 match against Jordan Thompson at Queen’s Club Championships. He withdrew from the match after falling behind 4-1 in the first set.

I just hope he will be able to finish his career on his terms. I send him my best, and to anybody out there really struggling with injuries, I think it is worth acknowledging all these athletes who are struggling.
Novak Djokovic added

Novak Djokovic begins Wimbledon campaign with an impressive first-round win

Second seed Novak Djokovic expressed great satisfaction with his performance and how he felt after winning his first match at Wimbledon following knee surgery. He hadn’t played since undergoing an operation to fix a knee problem aggravated during the French Open.

Novak Djokovic Wimbledon
Novak Djokovic (via X)

Djokovic, aiming to match Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles, easily defeated Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 on Centre Court. The former World No.1 was wearing a knee support on his right leg without showing any discomfort.

In the match, Djokovic showed his usual dominance, breaking Kopriva’s serve multiple times and finishing the first set swiftly after a tough fourth game. He continued to play aggressively in the second and third sets, converting defensive moves into powerful attacks. His victory was sealed with three consecutive aces, marking a confident return to form on the Wimbledon grass.

After the match, Djokovic had an unexpected meeting with snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan, who was in the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s player box as a guest. Djokovic revealed that he had been a fan of O’Sullivan since childhood, watching him play during his early years. The encounter added a touch of nostalgia and admiration to the Serb’s successful return to competitive tennis at Wimbledon.

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