Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner were the first men to take to Court No. 1 at this year’s Wimbledon Championships, completing an intense 45-minute practice session on Thursday. Their hit followed an earlier session featuring Aryna Sabalenka and Jessica Pegula.
Djokovic, a seven-time champion, started his practice session with the World No. 1 just a day after withdrawing from the Giorgio Armani Classic, a move that had sparked concern.
Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner Ramp Up Their Wimbledon Preparations
Djokovic and defending champion Sinner are part of an elite group of players to have been given early access to the tournament’s top two courts ahead of the main draw. The entry is typically reserved for past champions, top seeds, and other leading figures in the game.
Notably, Center Court and Court No. 1 were previously off-limits until the start of the tournament, a measure intended to preserve the highly regarded grass surface. However, the policy changed in 2022 following a series of player complaints about slippery conditions, including concerns raised after Serena Williams sustained an injury during her 2021 run.
Djokovic and Sinner, both of whom opted against competing in warm-up tournaments, made full use of their early access to acclimatize to the conditions at SW19.
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The Serb’s practice session came just a day after he withdrew from his scheduled appearance at the Hurlingham Club, where he was due to meet Karen Khachanov. While no explanation was offered, temperatures had soared to around 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday.
Sinner was also part of the line-up and went ahead with his appearance. The Italian, who has historically struggled in extreme heat, used the conditions to gain valuable experience ahead of his title defense.
“There was no wind at all, so it was maybe even warmer, but it’s good. That’s exactly what I need, a good preparation before starting the tournament,” he said after beating Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-3.
With Djokovic being one of only three players to have beaten him this year, Jannik Sinner will be looking to gain key insights as he targets a fifth Grand Slam title. The Serb, meanwhile, continues his quest for a 25th Major.
His season has not looked particularly promising so far. The 39-year-old has played only four tournaments and missed much of the first half of the year due to a nagging shoulder injury. He will be hoping to turn things around at SW19.
