Novak Djokovic of Serbia is gearing up for the 2023 Wimbledon Championships with a training session at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, London. As the tournament kicks off, Djokovic aims to secure his eighth title and equal the all-time record of 24th Grand Slam triumphs. The 36-year-old Serb has been dominant at the All England Club, not having lost a match on Centre Court in 10 years. His first opponent, Pedro Cachin of Argentina, is making his main draw debut and unintentionally assumes the role of the underdog. Djokovic shared, “When I step onto Centre Court, there’s something within me that awakens and enables me to perform at a remarkably high level.”
Having already claimed victory at the Australian Open and French Open this year, Djokovic sits at the top as the world number two. By winning his 23rd major in Paris, he positions himself just one title away from Margaret Court’s all-time record of 24. Additionally, he is halfway towards achieving the rare calendar Grand Slam, a feat only accomplished by Rod Laver in 1969. This year’s Wimbledon will notably exclude eight-time winner Roger Federer, who is now retired, and the injured Rafael Nadal.
Initially scheduled to face David Goffin, Australian player Nick Kyrgios withdrew due to a wrist injury sustained while preparing for the tournament. Kyrgios, who reached the finals against Djokovic in 2022, has faced various injuries this season, limiting his play to just one match. Consequently, a lucky loser from the qualifying rounds will replace him in the draw.
On the women’s side, the current world number one, Iga Swiatek, will take on China’s Zhu Lin, ranked 114th. Swiatek, fresh off her third French Open victory, aims to overcome her previous best of the fourth round at Wimbledon. Expressing her belief in versatile players, Swiatek said, “The best players have the ability to perform on all types of surfaces. I aspire to become that kind of player who excels on grass and feels comfortable there.” Meanwhile, five-time champion Venus Williams, now 43 years old, will compete against Elina Svitolina on Centre Court. Williams, participating in her 24th Wimbledon singles event, will face Svitolina, whose active support for her country in the war against Ukraine has captivated many.
Svitolina holds no resentment towards the All England Club for lifting last year’s ban on Russian and Belarusian players, despite her advocacy for that decision. Reflecting on the tournament’s choice, she said, “They were put in a difficult position. They didn’t want to lose a Grand Slam event, but we appreciate that they banned them last year. It’s what we fought for.” In 2019, Svitolina reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
In a departure from the tradition of strict all-white clothing, this year’s Wimbledon allows female players to wear dark-colored underwear beneath their white skirts. This relaxation aims to alleviate period anxiety for female athletes. British player Heather Watson attested to the benefits of this change, stating, “I wore black shorts at the Eastbourne tournament, and it really helped.”
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