2024 Wimbledon Day 2: Djokovic, Murray Give It A Go? Swiatek Opens Bid

Will they or won’t they? Novak Djokovic looks like a go Tuesday at Wimbledon but will Andy Murray step on the court. And if they do, how in-form will be they be?

Those questions and a lot more will be answered on Day 2 at Wimbledon.

Djokovic is less than a month removed from right knee surgery to repair a meniscus. The Serb, though, has been practicing for over a week to get right on the grass at Wimbledon where he’s won 34 of his last 35 matches as he seeks to match Roger Federer‘s eight titles.

“Well, when that happened in fourth round of Roland Garros, I made a very quick decision to make surgery, I was very much in doubt of making Wimbledon,” Djokovic stated Saturday.

“Then after extensive conversations with certain athletes that have been through very similar situations, for example, Taylor Fritz who has been through something pretty much the same like I have three years ago. I think he injured himself also in Roland Garros. He said 21 days after he played his first round in Wimbledon. Wawrinka, Lindsey Vonn, they all shared their experiences.

“Really, that gave me faith and optimism that if rehab is done right and correct, and if of course knee responds well, which is something that is very unpredictable, then there is a pretty good chance that I’ll make Wimbledon.

“I arrived here on Sunday. It’s been a week of training. Very good week of training. I had, particularly the last three days, very intense tennis sessions.

“Really top players that are playing great tennis on grass. High intensity. Lots of I guess situations on the court where the knee is tested to almost the maximum. Change of directions, so forth.

“The knee has responded very well to all of that so far, which of course then is a great sign for my participation in Wimbledon. That’s why I decided to be in the draw.”

Meanwhile, Murray has a surgical procedure to remove a spinal cyst just a week from Saturday. Reports are he’s not moving well in practice but since this is all but likely his final Wimbledon, the 2-time champion and British great will try to put on a show one last time on Centre Court.

“It’s been obviously a tough 10 days or so since Queen’s. Obviously had, yeah, the operation on the back, which it wasn’t insignificant. Yeah, just been trying to do everything that I can to try and get ready to start the tournament here,” Murray said on Sunday.

“I don’t know if that’s going to be enough. I’ve been practicing for the last few days. I played a set today. It went pretty well, but I still don’t have 100% sort of feeling and sensation in my leg yet.

“It’s getting better every single day. Like I said a few days ago, I want to give it every single chance that I can to get there.”

Alexander Zverev, who has never made the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, is also on court along with Hurbert Hurkacz, Eastbourne winner Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

For the women, with the bottom half already blown up after Aryna Sabalenka‘s withdrawal, what will come of the top half? Iga Swiatek seeks her first Wimbledon on a day when Marketa Vondrousova takes Centre at 1:30pm.

Jessica Pegula is back on the Grand Slam stage and former winner Elena Rybakina, 2-time finalist Ons Jabeur and British hope Katie Boulter will be on court.

TUESDAY WIMBLEDON SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT – 1:30PM
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (ESP) v Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) [6]
Vit Kopriva (CZE) v Novak Djokovic (SRB) [2]
Andy Murray (GBR) v Tomas Machac (CZE)

NO.1 COURT – 1:00PM
Elena Rybakina (KAZ) [4] v Elena-Gabriela Ruse (ROU)
Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) v Alexander Zverev (GER) [4]
Iga Swiatek (POL) [1] v Sofia Kenin (USA)

NO.2 COURT – 11:00AM
Ashlyn Krueger (USA) v Jessica Pegula (USA) [5]
Andrey Rublev [6] v Francisco Comesana (ARG)
Jack Draper (GBR) [28] v Elias Ymer (SWE)
Ons Jabeur (TUN) [10] v Moyuka Uchijima (JPN)