Djokovic Is Very Relaxed Before Wimbledon

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 21st June 2013

Djokovic Is Very Relaxed Before Wimbledon |

Photo courtesy of Brett Connors photography

Twitter: @Brett_Connors

If pre-Wimbledon pressure is mounting for world no.1 and former champion Novak Djokovic then he has a unique way of handling it. The Serb looked ultra-relaxed as he played an exhibition warm-up match to the extent he asked the crowd to slow-clap him as he removed his tennis shirt, swinging it above his head and flexing his muscles in the mode of a burlesque dancer.

Djokovic was playing Grigor Dimitrov in the Boodles Classic, staged at the exclusive Stoke Park Club in Buckinghamshire which is famed as being the scene for James Bond’s infamous game of golf with Goldfinger in the 1960’s film of the same name.

Then to make things even more entertaining for his opponent, Djokovic proceeded to do his famed imitation for Dimitrov’s girlfriend Maria Sharapova. Djokovic shouted out: “I haven’t done my Maria impression for a while now, but I think Grigor is probably better at it than me now.”

Dimitrov was not offended in the least and joined in the hijinks, agreeing to compare Sharapova acts for the crowd, saying: “I’ll do the walking.”

Djokovic replied in that case he would do the serve and proceeded to prance around the court before sticking out his bottom and pretending to tuck long hair behind his ears. He then steadied himself to serve, threw the ball in the air and hit it, grunting like a wild animal.

On a more serious note, top seeded Djokovic reported everything is in perfect working order before he begins his bid to reclaim the Wimbledon title he won in 2011.

“Everything is going according to plan and hopefully I can get in the best possible shape for the start of Wimbledon,” said the 26 year-old who was downhearted during the recent French Open by news of the death of his first coach Jelena Gencic. “I know what I need to do in order to adjust from the slowest to the fastest service in a very short period of time.

“There’s no bigger motivation than playing in the most prestigious tournament in the world in our sport, the one that I always dreamed of winning. I won it two years ago and it’s definitely been the highlight of my career. I love playing at Wimbledon.

“Grass is the most special surface we have in the sport; the oldest also. We play on it only a few weeks a year so we better use it wisely. I like playing on it and it makes me aggressive on the court. Hopefully I can raise the level of my game as the tournament goes on.”