Wimbledon: Novak Djokovic says a doctor's 'miracle pills' helped his stomach during his win
Djokovic needed a break while trailing 2-1 in the third set at Centre Court and was seen again later in that set.
'I went from feeling my absolutely best for a set and a half to my absolute worst for about 45 minutes,' Djokovic said. 'Whether it was a stomach bug — I don't know what it is, but just struggled with that. The energy kind of kicked back after some doctor's miracle pills and I managed to finish the match on a good note.'
He improved to 20-0 in opening matches at the All England Club, where he has won seven of his 24 Grand Slam titles. He's been to the final at each of the last six editions, although he lost at that stage to Carlos Alcaraz in 2023 and 2024.
'I wouldn't be here if I didn't think I have a chance. I think I always have a chance. I think I earned my right to really feel like I can go all the way to the title,' the 38-year-old from Serbia said. 'I always felt like grass, particularly in the second part of my career, was really the surface where I played my best tennis. So why not do it again?'
Djokovic avoided the sort of upset that's been rampant on the tournament's initial two days: A total of 23 seeds — 13 men, 10 women — already is out of the field, tying the highest number at a Grand Slam tournament since 2001, when they began seeding 32 players in each singles bracket.
Did he consider stopping Tuesday because of how he was feeling?
'No,' he replied. 'I honestly wasn't thinking about that or taking that as an option.'
Djokovic accumulated a whopping 27 break points against the unseeded Muller, converting seven.
Across the 3 hours, 19 minutes, Djokovic only faced three break chances for Muller — none until the last set — and saved each.
'I came up with some big serves,' said Djokovic, who will face Dan Evans of Britain on Thursday. 'Overall, I served very well today. That's one of the things I've been working on.'
___
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
18 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Alcaraz faces amateur hour against young Brit at Wimbledon
Unheralded British amateur Oliver Tarvet is targeting arguably the biggest upset in Wimbledon history when he pits his wits against champion Carlos Alcaraz on Wednesday. Emma Raducanu is hoping to make home advantage count against 2023 winner Marketa Vondrousova, while Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca is aiming to copy Roger Federer's grace on the grass. Advertisement AFP Sport looks at the matches to watch on day three of the tournament at the All England Club. Tarvet's tab World number 733 Oliver Tarvet has an unusual issue after his run through qualifying to reach round two and the sport's most hallowed turf. As a student of the University of San Diego he has to maintain amateur status to remain in the US collegiate tennis system. Despite earning £99,000 ($136,000) in prize money so far, he can only bank $10,000 profit during the calendar year after subtracting his expenses. The 21-year-old is already planning a more luxurious return trip to California but is also dreaming of ending Alcaraz's bid for a third straight title. Advertisement "I've got to find £60,000, £70,000 of expenses. Tennis is an expensive sport. So, hopefully, I can make that happen. Just pay my coaches a little bit extra. I don't know. We'll figure something out. Fly business class!" Tarvet said. The British player, playing his first Grand Slam, is not short of self-belief and will hope Alcaraz is jaded after his gruelling five-set opener. "I'm quietly confident that I can win against anyone," he said. "Alcaraz isn't an exception to that. Obviously, he's done an incredible amount in the tennis world. He's a difficult guy not to respect." Raducanu's big test Advertisement British number one Emma Raducanu played down her chances on the eve of the tournament, saying she "does not expect much" as she juggles inconsistent form with a niggling back problem. Last year's run to the fourth round at Wimbledon was the 22-year-old's best performance at a Grand Slam since she shot to fame by winning the US Open in 2021. Currently 40th in the world, Raducanu has hit her highest ranking this year (36th) since September 2022. Marketa Vondrousova may be 33 places further down the rankings, but the Czech is a grass-court specialist who is finding her feet again after a persistent shoulder injury. Advertisement The 26-year-old won her first title since winning Wimbledon just over a week ago at the Berlin Open and is a potential contender for the tournament now she is pain-free. "When you are playing with pain, it's crazy. You just think about it all the time. It's there all the time," said Vondrousova. "It's just the one thing you have on your mind all the time. Now I can focus on everything else, so it's great." Teenage dreamer Fonseca mirrors Federer Joao Fonseca said his Wimbledon debut felt like a "dream" as he swatted aside Jacob Fearnley in straight sets, thrashing 31 winners in the process. Advertisement The prodigiously talented Brazilian is one of the rising stars of the ATP Tour and has been studying Wimbledon's retired Swiss master Roger Federer for inspiration on how to adapt to the grass, a surface on which he has little experience. "It's inspiring because you can see him in a big match, in a final against (Novak) Djokovic, and he just makes it so smooth, so easy," Fonseca said, referring to watching video clips of Federer. "His style, his slice, coming to net, chip and charge. It was complete. That's what I want." Fonseca next faces Eastbourne finalist Jacob Brooksby and his draw does not hold many terrors after eighth-seed Holger Rune's early exit. kca/jw
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Pupils give up smartphones in behaviour experiment
Pupils at a school in Kent have given up their smartphones as part of an experiment to monitor their behaviour. Year 10 students at The Canterbury Academy Trust who handed in their phones said it was a "scary" prospect, but also "a relief". As part of a research project by the University of Kent, the pupils will not have access to their smartphones for one week. Experts said they wanted to track the change in the behaviour of students and the impact it has on them. Emilia and Molly handed in their smartphones on Monday morning. Molly said: "It's a nice bit of freedom because you don't have to constantly be checking your messages and see you're missing out on things." Meanwhile, Emilia added: "I think it's going to improve our mental health and mental wellbeing because you're not constantly looking at your phone, you can actually get on with things that you're meant to." The pupils have been given a basic Nokia phone for the week, with no access to social media. Jon Watson, chief executive officer of The Canterbury Academy Trust, is also taking part in the trial, which has previously been carried out at two Kent schools. He said phone use was already restricted during the school day, but the experiment included when staff and pupils returned home. "I thought it was important that I set that example, so that I can be present and in the moment," he said. "It's about helping young people understand the power and responsibility they have when they are in possession of a smartphone, how positive they can be in terms of what they can do, but also some of the negatives and some of the challenges they'll face while they have that mobile phone as well." Participants are to be interviewed at the start and at the end of the week by Dr Lindsey Cameron, a psychology lecturer at the University of Kent. "We know there's a link between smartphone use and mental health, problems with sleep, comparing yourselves to others - and phones are really addictive. "We really have to understand what effect this is having on young people." This week, six primary schools and more than 5,000 parents and caregivers in Kent signed up to a pact that promised to delay smartphone use in teenagers until Year 9 and access to social media until two years later. More schools are due to take part in the experiment in the coming months and a summit involving teachers from schools across Kent is to be held in September to discuss a cross-county approach to smartphones. Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. University of Kent The Canterbury Academy Trust Thousands of parents support under-14 phone ban Parents get forum to air smartphone access concerns
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Hospital staff and patients raise prostate cancer funds with walk
Sponsored walks have raised £190 for Prostate Cancer UK. Staff and patients from Cygnet Hospital Wyke and Cygnet Hospital Bierley took part in the March for Men event to raise awareness of prostate cancer. Cygnet Hospital Wyke is a 31-bed acute and PICU service for men, while Cygnet Hospital Bierley is a 62-bed acute and low secure hospital. Gavin Clark, hospital manager at Cygnet Hospital Wyke, said: "We are really proud to have raised money for Prostate Cancer UK as it is such an important charity. "Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, so all donations to this amazing charity really make a difference. "Everyone at Cygnet Health Care really cares for each other, and we wanted to do something that could help improve the lives of others too. "We are lucky that our registered general nurse and physical health lead, Olan Idowu, was able to arrange a great collaborative fundraiser for a worthy cause." Patients at Cygnet Hospital Wyke decorated t-shirts for their two-mile walk. Participants from Cygnet Hospital Bierley, also donning customised t-shirts, completed a three-mile route. Prostate Cancer UK funds research and campaigns against injustice in care.
