Novak Djokovic has thrown his support behind Serena Williams following her first-round exit at Wimbledon, urging critics to stop judging the 44-year-old’s comeback and instead appreciate what her return means for the sport.
Speaking after his straight-sets victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday, the seven-time Wimbledon champion said Williams’s presence at the All England Club was far more significant than the result of a single match.
“What she’s doing is incredible, it’s epic,” Djokovic said. “I’ve always been a fan of Serena.”
He acknowledged that a champion of Williams’s stature would never be satisfied with simply making an appearance.
“Knowing how competitive she is, with the mind of a champion, she’s not happy just showing up,” he said. “She wants to win.”
Djokovic, however, questioned the criticism directed at Williams after her defeat, pointing to the challenges of returning to the highest level after years away from competitive tennis.
“She’s 44, she has two children, and she hasn’t played a match in so many years,” he said. “It’s normal that she’s still not at her best in terms of movement. People need to cool off a little with the judgment and the criticism.”
The Serbian said expectations remained unrealistically high because fans had grown accustomed to seeing Williams dominate the sport for nearly two decades.
“People are used to seeing us at our best because they’ve watched us dominate the sport for so many years,” he said.
Djokovic urged fans to look beyond the scoreboard and recognise the significance of Williams’s return.
“Just enjoy the greatness of who she is and what she represents to the sport,” he said. “You have the greatest ever coming to play, bringing more attention to your sport. I don’t understand that kind of thinking and judgment.”
Calling her comeback “an incredible gift for our sport,” Djokovic said tennis should celebrate, rather than scrutinise, one of its greatest champions.
Having watched part of Williams’s match, Djokovic also expressed hope that she would continue her comeback later this season, with the US Open emerging as a likely target.
“Nobody really knows what’s going to happen,” he said. “Playing at home would be amazing, for her and for everyone else.”
Djokovic ended with a heartfelt message of support for the 23-time Grand Slam champion.
“I really support Serena, always have, and hopefully she’s going to play more.”
– Ends
