At 36, Novak Djokovic continues to prove that age is just a number.
The Serbian extended his winning streak in Grand Slam events to 23 on Wednesday when he produced a stunning performance to beat Australian Jordan Thompson in the second round of Wimbledon.
The win gave Djokovic his 350th win at a major tournament and became the third player to reach the feat, joining Roger Federer (369) and Serena Williams (365). The Belgrade-native’s pace is showing no signs of slowing down.
“You are only as young or as old as you feel. “I feel young in my body, in my mind, in my heart,” Djokovic said at the post-match press conference. “My children remind me of the time I spend with them. The innocence, incredible curiosity, pure love and energy that I get to experience with them really strengthens the child in you.
“There is also the fact that I am still playing the sport that I fell in love with as a child. I think it’s something that’s very refreshing. I must say that I am really lucky and blessed to have a healthy body. Still at this level, after 20 years of professional tennis, I am able to compete at the highest level.”
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If Djokovic maintains that level, he could be in the Wimbledon record books this year. If he wins the title, he will tie Roger Federer with eight Wimbledon titles and become the oldest men’s champion at SW19 in the Open era.
One of the reasons the 94-time Tour-level titlist has won 11 majors since the age of 30 is because he is constantly improving even the smallest details of his game.
“I never want to stop moving forward, learning, trying to improve, trying to understand the nuances,” Djokovic said. Whether it’s with my sport, my body, my nutrition, recovery, whatever it is that can take me one little step forward.
“I have a great hunger for knowledge, for experience. Life is one great journey that can offer a lot if one is open to the experience. I can only speak for myself. I have gone through many things in life in these 36 years. I am so grateful for everything I have experienced.”
Chasing a record-extending 24th major this fortnight, Djokovic is bracing for any pressure and using it as fuel to continue the chase for his third Grand Slam tournament trophy this season Are.
Djokovic said, “Every time I step on the court, especially at Grand Slams and Center Court, I feel proud of myself, of the people around me who are watching tennis live or on TV, of the entire tennis world.” The pressure and the expectations are felt.” “It is a feeling that I have become accustomed to by now, and it is something that I cherish as well because it is giving me more motivation to try to make more history.
“I don’t think it will change as long as I am actually playing. Regardless of the Grand Slam count fact, I still want to make my results and my journey my own. I think that’s what inspires me the most these days.”
Djokovic will face either 29th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry or three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka in the third round at the All England Club. The Serbian won his first Lexus ATP head2head meeting this year in Rome against Argentina Etcheverry and holds a 20-6 record against Swiss Wawrinka, who had defeated Djokovic in two major finals (2015 Roland Garros, 2016 US Open).