Novak Djokovic enters Wimbledon 2026 aiming to secure a 25th Grand Slam title, a milestone that could represent his best and potentially final chance as Carlos Alcaraz is expected to return by the U.S. Open later this year. The 39-year-old Serbian has been contending with a shoulder injury that first surfaced during his semi-final victory over Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open earlier this year. Since then, his match play has been limited, including a single clay-court appearance before Roland Garros, where he lost after leading by two sets against the Brazilian teenager João Fonseca.

Djokovic’s path at Wimbledon may see a rare rematch against Fonseca in the fourth round, with a possible confrontation against Sinner in the semi-finals if both progress. Despite his recent physical setbacks, Djokovic is a seven-time Wimbledon champion and emphasized his strong historical performances on grass as a source of confidence entering the tournament.

“I think I’m better prepared here than I was for Roland Garros,” Djokovic said, highlighting the reduced physical demands of grass court play compared to clay. He noted that the surface’s characteristics suit his game and that his affection for grass courts bolsters his outlook. Djokovic acknowledged the challenge of competing at Roland Garros without sufficient match practice following his injury hiatus but expressed that the time off was strategically used to rebuild fitness ahead of Wimbledon.

“I was planning to peak at Wimbledon after the injury of the shoulder that kind of kept me away from the tour for several months,” Djokovic explained. “I knew not having many official matches on the tour, going pretty much straight into Roland Garros, is going to be quite difficult. Maybe too big of a challenge at the moment. That’s what happened. But I knew that’s going to give me a bit more time to get myself prepared for Wimbledon.”

As the tournament unfolds, Djokovic’s physical condition and ability to navigate a competitive draw will determine whether he can extend his Grand Slam legacy before Alcaraz returns to contest the remaining majors of the season.