28 June,2021 08:29 AM IST | London | AFP
Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic targets a record-equalling 20th major and sixth Wimbledon title from Monday which will edge him tantalisingly closer to becoming only the third man in history to complete a calendar Grand Slam.
The World No. 1 has already won a ninth Australian Open and second French Open this season. That has put him halfway to emulating Don Budge (1937) and Rod Laver (1962 and 1969) in sweeping all four majors in the same year. It is a feat even his closest rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have never managed.
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Djokovic says he can block out distractions as he bids to defend his Wimbledon title which would see him equal Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer's record Grand Slam singles haul of 20. The Serb arrives at Wimbledon - he plays British wild card Jack Draper, 19, on Monday - on the back of an epic success over Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas in the French Open final a fortnight ago. Victory at Wimbledon would leave him just needing to win the US Open to secure a calendar Grand Slam of majors having won the Australian Open earlier in the season.
"There is always something on the line I feel like for me, probably Roger and Rafa as well, when it comes to the tennis history in the last couple of years," he said at his pre-Wimbledon press conference on Saturday.
"We've been very successful, particularly in Slams. Of course, I understand that people love to debate who is the greatest, who is going to have the most titles, etcetera, etcetera. There's always a lot going on I think off the tennis court. But once I'm on the court, I try to lock in and I try to exclude all the distractions. I feel like over the years I managed to develop the mechanism that allows me to do that."
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