Serena Williams has found herself at the center of intense discourse over her decision to make a singles comeback at Wimbledon after suffering a first-round loss. Amid the scrutiny over her performance, Novak Djokovic threw his support behind the American, defending her against criticism and denouncing the harsh judgment directed her way.
Novak Djokovic Defends Serena Williams Against Judgment at Wimbledon
Williams locked horns with Maya Joint in her opening match at the grass-court Major, putting up a spirited fight in her first official singles match since retiring at the 2022 US Open. However, the 23-time Grand Slam champion ultimately fell short as Joint claimed a 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-3 victory to oust her from the tournament.
In the aftermath of the loss, Williams faced criticism over both her level of play and her decision to skip the customary post-match press conference. It was later revealed that she had canceled her media duties due to a knee injury sustained during the match.
Djokovic, meanwhile, secured a dominant 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in their second-round clash. During his post-match press conference, he had nothing but praise for Williams’ comeback and expressed his hope that she keeps competing on tour.
“Look, I said it even before the tournament started that what she’s doing is incredible. It’s epic. I’ve always been a fan of Serena. I’m sure she wanted and expected deep down inside to at least win one match or more. Knowing how competitive she is and the mind of a champion she has, she’s not happy with just showing up on the court. She wants to win. I hope for the sake of tennis and all of us, that we’ll be able to see her more,” he said.
Having watched her match, the Serb also highlighted the circumstances surrounding Williams’ comeback, emphasizing that it was only natural for the 44-year-old to show signs of rust after stepping away from the sport and welcoming her second child.
“I was watching the match a little bit. Look, she hasn’t played for years. She had two children. People are used to, when we talk about Serena, and also in my case and some great champions, people expect you to play your best because they’re used to seeing you dominate the sport for so many years. She’s 44, two children, coming back, it’s normal that she’s still not at her best in terms of movement and she hasn’t played a match in so many years,” Djokovic said.
Djokovic was baffled by the criticism directed at the American, arguing that instead of harshly judging her performance, fans should simply enjoy the chance to see one of the greatest players in history compete again.
“People need to cool off a little bit with the judgment and the criticism and everything. Let’s just enjoy the greatness and who she is and what she represents to the sport. Her wanting to give it a try and just come back, it’s an incredible gift for our sport,” he added. “I don’t know why they don’t appreciate that enough. They just start to speculate, judge, or whatever. Hey guys, enjoy. You have the greatest ever coming to play for you, to bring more attention to your sport.”
MORE: ‘She Left Site Unaided’ – Serena Williams’ Agent’s Worrying Injury Update Ahead of Wimbledon Doubles
No. 7 seed Novak Djokovic will now turn his attention to his third-round clash against No. 25 seed Arthur Rinderknech. Serena Williams, meanwhile, has disclosed that she is doing everything possible to recover from her knee injury in time for her doubles campaign alongside her sister Venus Williams.
