After Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic Might Not Play Another Major Until The 2023 French Open

Novak Djokovic is especially motivated to win his fourth straight Wimbledon title and 21st Grand Slam singles crown in part because he knows it will probably be a while before he plays in another major.

The 35-year-old Serb expects to miss the U.S. Open later this summer because he’s unvaccinated against Covid-19 and thus cannot travel to the U.S. as a foreigner, and he faces a three-year ban from the Australian Open after having been deported ahead of the tournament in January, although that ban could end early.

“The crazy thought is that he might not be in a major after this one until the French next year because he potentially got his visa revoked for three years in Australia, [he’s] not in the [U.S.] Open,” ESPN tennis analyst Brad Gilbert said on air after Djokovic advanced over South Korea’s Kwon Soon Woo in four sets, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round at Wimbledon.

“I mean, it’s a lot to have to deal with and it’s self-inflicted.”

Djokovic has had what ESPN’s Pam Shriver called an “unsettling” 2022 after winning the first three majors of 2021 to put himself in position to be the first man to win the calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.

He lost in the U.S. Open final to Daniil Medvedev, missed playing in Australia and lost in the Roland Garros quarterfinals to Nadal.

“For some really bizarre reasons he’s had one of the most unsettling years in the history of tennis,” Shriver said on air. “When you think where he was a year ago trying to go for the calendar year Grand Slam leaving here. And I think he feels an immense pressure to win this championship.”

Djokovic said as much ahead of the tournament.

“That is an extra motivation to do well here,” he said.

Djokovic remains at 20 major titles, tied with Roger Federer, and two back of Rafael Nadal, who is now in position to win the calendar Grand Slam for the first time in his career entering Wimbledon.

Djokovic entered Wimbledon having played no warm-up tournaments on grass and was scratchy in his debut. He was broken twice and only converted 60% of his first serves.

Still, he won his 80th Wimbledon match to become the first man or woman to win 80 matches at all four majors.

“You’re always going to feel probably a little less comfortable than you would like to at the beginning, particularly if you’re playing against some body as talented as Kwon, who stays close to the line and hits very clean from the forehand and backhand side,” Djokovic said on court of not playing any warm-up events.

“It was really difficult to go through him so I had to figure out a way to tactically get in control of the point. It wasn’t easy, I had to put a lot of variety in the game. I think serve helped. I faced a break point in the third set. If he broke my serve, it could’ve really gone in a different way, this match. At this level, one or two points, one or two shots, decide the winner and I’m glad I was on the winning side today.”

With the win, Djokovic has now won 42 of his last 44 matches at the All-England Club as he seeks to join Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer among men to have won Wimbledon four straight times..

“It was a little bit of a scratcy match from Joker…but you gotta think what’s happened to start the year with Djokovic has had a little bit of an effect on him,” Gilbert said. “And he didn’t look that fired up today but he played his way in the tournament. I expect he will get better, he will have to get better

He will next face the winner between Kamil Majchrzak of Poland and Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia.

Without world Nos. 1 and 2 Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev in the tournament, Djokovic appears to have a pretty good draw all the way through to the final where he could face Nadal in what would be another match of tremendous historical significance.