Djokovic to Play Wimbledon but Only if He Feels He Can Challenge for the Title 

24 June 2024, United Kingdom, London: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on July 1st. (dpa)
24 June 2024, United Kingdom, London: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on July 1st. (dpa)
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Djokovic to Play Wimbledon but Only if He Feels He Can Challenge for the Title 

24 June 2024, United Kingdom, London: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on July 1st. (dpa)
24 June 2024, United Kingdom, London: Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon ahead of the Wimbledon Championships, which begins on July 1st. (dpa)

Novak Djokovic is encouraged by his progress after undergoing minor knee surgery less than three weeks ago, but the seven-times Wimbledon champion said he will only play in the grasscourt Grand Slam next month if he is able to fight for the title.

The 37-year-old picked up the injury to his right knee during his fourth-round win at the French Open and pulled out of the quarter-finals before having surgery on June 6, putting his Wimbledon and Olympic hopes in jeopardy.

But the Serb, whose Paris Games spot was confirmed earlier this month, posted videos of his return to training on Instagram last week before arriving at the All England Club on Sunday and immediately ramping up his preparations.

"I didn't come here to play a few rounds," Djokovic told the BBC after practice on Monday. "If I know I can play close to my maximum or at maximum, then I'll play. If not, then I'll give somebody else a chance to play.

"Rehab is going in the right direction every single day, a few percent better and better. That's what's giving me hope and encouragement to keep going.

"I'm taking things gradually. I'm not pushing myself yet 100% but I'm hoping that's going to come in the next few days."

The world number two is looking to end his title drought in 2024 after winning three of the four Grand Slams last year, as he hunts for a record-extending 25th major trophy.

His only defeat in the Grand Slams in 2023 came at Wimbledon where he was beaten in five sets by Carlos Alcaraz in the title decider.

Wimbledon runs from July 1-14.



Guardiola: Winning Club World Cup Would Not Make Up for City's Disappointing Season

Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Manchester City Training - Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida, US - June 21, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during training REUTERS/Marco Bello
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Manchester City Training - Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida, US - June 21, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during training REUTERS/Marco Bello
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Guardiola: Winning Club World Cup Would Not Make Up for City's Disappointing Season

Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Manchester City Training - Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida, US - June 21, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during training REUTERS/Marco Bello
Soccer Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Manchester City Training - Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida, US - June 21, 2025 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during training REUTERS/Marco Bello

Winning the Club World Cup title again would not make up for the disappointing 2024-25 season that Manchester City have had, manager Pep Guardiola said ahead of Sunday's Group G clash with Emirati side Al-Ain in Atlanta.

Guardiola's City fell short of winning the Premier League for the fifth time in a row, finishing third in the English top-flight. They also failed to reach the Champions League's round of 16, being eliminated by Real Madrid in the knockout phase playoffs.

"I said many times, the season was not good," Guardiola told reporters on Saturday.

"Winning this competition is not going to change that, but my mindset at the moment is not about winning the competition. We can extend our time here, being here longer,” Reuters quoted him as saying.

Guardiola, who has won the Club World Cup four times as manager, guided City to their first world title in 2023, before the tournament was revamped as a 32-team competition to be held once every four years.

City, who beat Morocco's Wydad Casablanca 2-0 in their campaign opener, have a chance to qualify for the round of 16 with a win over Al-Ain, who suffered a 5-0 loss to Juventus in their first game.

"Now we're here, I want to do the best. I want to enjoy the moment here because you're here one time every four years... And I want to arrive in the latter stages," Guardiola added.