Novak Djokovic opens up about his struggles in Wimbledon debut vs Alexandre Muller

On Tuesday, Novak Djokovic opened his Wimbledon campaign with a 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2 win over Alexandre Muller. While the scoreline suggests a clear advantage for the Serbian star, the World No. 6 struggled at times during the match, which affected his overall performance.

Djokovic started the match strongly, cruising through the first set and coming close to taking the second on multiple occasions. However, physical issues began to affect him midway through the contest, prompting a medical timeout and sparking concerns about a potential withdrawal.

“I went from feeling my absolute best for a set and a half to my absolute worst for about 45 minutes,” Novak admitted after defeating Muller, according to the official website of the ATP Tour, when discussing his drop in performance during the second set.

“Whether it was a stomach bug, I struggled with that, but then the energy kicked back after the doctor’s miracle pills and I managed to finish the match on a good note,” added the Serbian star, who preserved his impressive record of never being eliminated in the first round at Wimbledon.

Djokovic beat Alexandre Muller in his Wimbledon debut

Djokovic chasing Federer’s record

The 2025 tournament marks Novak Djokovic’s 20th appearance at Wimbledon, dating back to his debut in 2005 and excluding 2020, when the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over those years, he has reached the final 10 times and won 7 titles—just one short of Roger Federer’s all-time record.

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Asked whether, at 38 years old, he still feels capable of competing at the highest level on the grass courts of England, Djokovic was candid. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I had a chance,” he said. “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. I have had the most consistent success here at Wimbledon.”

What’s next for Djokovic at Wimbledon?

After his win over Alexandre Muller in the opening round, Novak Djokovic will have two days to recover physically and prepare for his next test at Wimbledon. In the second round of the tournament, he will face local favorite Daniel Evans, World No. 154, who defeated Jay Clarke in straight sets in the opening round.