Wildcarded Novak Djokovic faces a difficult task at London’s Queen’s Club on Thursday. In the round of 16 he will face Grigor Dimitrov, who will play against the Serb in the Head to Head.
“We all had a lot to process,” Dimitrov said with regard to the duel with the Djoker. “Sometimes you hear it at the press conferences, sometimes it happens in silence. “It’s anything but easy to get back from an operation or any kind of injury.”
After last year’s Wimbledon tournament, Djokovic had to take a break from the tournament and undergo an intervention on his right elbow.
Dimitrov knows Djokovic isn’t at his top level yet. “Everyone can see that he’s eased up a little bit. That’s no secret,” said the 27-year-old ATP Finals champion.
In the first round of Queen’s Dimitrov beat Damir Dzumhur 6:3, 6:7(4) 6:3. His next match will probably be a lot trickier, because his opponent “has won so many tournaments and turned over matches. I expect only the best from him.”
So far, they have met seven times and Djokovic has won six of them. The only turf duel to date also went to the Serbs: four years ago he won the semi-final in Wimbledon 6-4 3-6-7-6(2-7-6(7).
“Whether it’s early in the tournament or not, you have to beat these players if you want to win the tournament,” said Djokovic when asked about the duel with Dimitrov. “It won’t be our first duel. I’m here to find a better game.”
The last of 68 tournament victories so far was won by Djokovic last year at the Wimbledon preparation tournament in Eastbourne.