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Djokovic Wimbledon 2019
Novak Djokovic, Tennis News, Wimbledon

‘Novak Djokovic is head and shoulders above the competition’, says former pro


Former ATP player Nicolas Pereira believes world No. 1 Novak Djokovic will be “head and shoulders above the competition” at Wimbledon.

Pereira reached a career-high ranking of world No. 74 and registered wins against Stefan Edberg, Boris Becker and Thomas Muster – before retiring in 1997.

The Venezuelan – who works as a coach and as an analyst for Tennis Channel – assessed Djokovic’s potential Wimbledon opponents up to the quarter-finals.

“Well [Jack] Draper, it’s not easy, but Novak is just head and shoulders above the competition. Kevin Anderson has not seen much action,” Pereira told Tennis Channel Live.

“[Alejandro] Davidovich Fokina just retired with an injury [in Eastbourne]. But when it comes to Djokovic, he just feels so comfortable and he is the defending champion after beating [Roger] Federer in that wonderful final a couple of years ago.

“He’s not looking past that Draper match, but I really like his chances this year at Wimbledon. Well [Andrey] Rublev got to the finals in Halle, but we saw what happened with [Ugo] Humbert.

“[Rublev is] not the greatest of movers on the grass, I don’t think he’s totally comfortable inside the lines as well. Not a whole lot of grass court specialists on that side of the draw.”

Djokovic – a five-time champion at the All England Club – begins his campaign against British wildcard Jack Draper, who reached the Queen’s Club quarter-finals last week.


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.