Novak Djokovic names the two ‘favourites’ to win Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic has rejected his former coach’s claims that he is the ‘favourite’ to win Wimbledon.

Goran Ivanisevic, who coached Djokovic to many Grand Slam titles and won Wimbledon himself in 2001, recently claimed the 38-year-old was the man to beat in SW19.

Djokovic is bidding to equal Roger Federer’s tally of eight Wimbledon titles and become the first player in history to win 25 Grand Slam singles titles.

The Serbian legend has enjoyed a relatively stress-free run to the quarter-finals, dropping just two sets in his first four wins at the All England Club.

Djokovic’s latest four-set win came against Alex de Minaur after the Australian number one stunned Centre Court by taking the opener 6-1.

Speaking earlier this week, Ivanisevic claimed the player he used to coach was the ‘favourite’ to triumph at Wimbledon come Sunday evening.

‘Here [at Wimbledon], I see his chance,’ Ivanisevic told Clay Tennis. ‘Looking at the draw, I don’t think no one can beat Djokovic before the semis.

‘He’s never lost to [potential semi-final opponent] Jannik Sinner here. OK, Australian Open and Roland Garros, but here Novak’s beaten him twice.

‘In my view, Novak’s the favourite, no matter how sentimental that sounds. Alcaraz has beaten him twice, but last year Novak came after knee surgery, and in 2023 we all remember how close it was.

‘Everyone says this is his last chance – I don’t agree. Plus, he’s the best grass-court player, experienced, he knows exactly what it takes here. It’ll be fascinating.’

Ivanisevic’s comments were put to Djokovic following his fourth-round win and while the veteran appreciated the support, he disagreed.

Instead, Djokovic views two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and world number one Jannik Sinner as the two ‘favourites’ for the title.

‘I love Goran, and I’m happy he loves me back, but I don’t think I’m a favourite against these guys at the moment,’ Djokovic admitted. ‘I think they are, both of them.

‘But I do probably have my best chance here against them here, yeah. If it comes down to me facing one of them or two of them, which I hope so, it means I would proceed to the final and then yeah, I’ll obviously look for my best game to win.

‘I do think have a chance. There’s no doubt about it. I think my results on grass even in the previous years are a testament to my confidence on this surface.

‘I’ve been playing some really good tennis this year. So I feel good about myself. I feel confident. I feel motivated to go all the way. Let’s see what happens.

Alcaraz was taken to five sets by the retiring Fabio Fognini in his opener but has looked commanding since then, beating the dangerous Andrey Rublev last time out.

Sinner, meanwhile, had not dropped a set before he was handed a walkover in a match against Gregor Dimitrov in which he was two sets behind.

Dimitrov looked on course to stun the three-time Grand Slam champion but then had to retire in the third set through injury.

It was a fortunate break for Sinner as he bids to win Wimbledon for the first time but he too was struggling with an injury concern that he will hope settles down before his quarter-final.

Sinner faces America’s world number ten Ben Shelton for a place in the semi-finals, while defending champion Alcaraz takes on Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie.

Djokovic is set to meet Italy’s Flavio Cobolli – contesting his first Grand Slam quarter-final – while Taylor Fritz comes up against Karen Khachanov.

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