JOHN LLOYD: Djokovic is unbeatable on grass and wants eighth title

JOHN LLOYD: Andy Murray might be on form but Novak Djokovic is unbeatable on grass and wants Rodger Federer’s Wimbledon record – but who can stop the Serbian?

  • Novak Djokovic can surpass Rodger Federer and win his eighth Wimbledon title  
  • The Serbian is being backed as one of the favourites this for the championship 
  • Andy Murray comes into the tournament in fine form and could also challenge 

If Novak Djokovic wins this year, he’s equalled Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon titles. We’re used to thinking of Centre Court as Roger’s place but if Novak wins this year it is his place too!

The main thing that makes him seemingly unbeatable on grass is his movement. He’s made of rubber, he’s the rubberman! The way he slides into shots on grass is totally different to anyone else — he is always half a step faster.

When people are playing against him they start having to go for the lines, he forces people to go out of their comfort zone if they want to beat him, and that creates errors.

Your second serves have to become bigger otherwise the return is coming straight back down your throat. Every aspect of your game comes under pressure. 

What happens with a lot of players is they overplay against him because they play the guy on the other side of the court. 

Andy Murray (above) is in fine fettle coming into this week’s All England Championships 

Novak Djokovic (pictured), meanwhile, will look to surpass Roger Federer’s record at Wimbledon and win his eighth title at the tournament 

The pair were seen practicing ahead of next week at the All England Club and shared a handshake following their session

If I was coaching them I would say: play your own game, take care of your business, then worry about him. If we’re down 5-2, then you can go to plan B. 

I’ve got a very good feeling about Andy Murray this year, there are glimpses of the old Andy. If he gets to the quarter-finals it would be a good effort but I have a feeling he could make the semis.

His preparation couldn’t have gone much better. He won those two Challenger tournaments and then losing in the first round at Queen’s wasn’t a bad thing as it meant he could rest. 

Apparently he’s already looking ahead to next year and the Olympics and everything else, he’s still gung ho. I’m so full of admiration for him.

Murray is in a good section of the draw, along with Cam Norrie. Over five sets Norrie is a warrior so we could have a Norrie v Murray quarter-final, which would be amazing.

There’s been a bit of negativity about the British women, but I don’t buy it. I know she’s not here this year but we have a Grand Slam champion! 

People say Emma Raducanu’s US Open win was a fluke, a one-off. Nonsense, absolute nonsense. 

She’s class. She has to sort the injuries out and it’s imperative that she and her team stop faffing about with coaches. But she’ll be back. She’s a genuine top-10 player.

Raducanu aside we have a good group of women now. Are we going to see Grand Slams out of them? No, but we’ve got younger players coming through who are going to be huge news. 

I saw Hannah Klugman, who’s 14, in qualifying and she looked fantastic. If she’s not going to be top 10 in a few years then I’m a Dutchman. She looks 20 already and boy does she hit the ball well. We’ve got another gem here.

Cameron Norrie (pictured) could meet with Murray in an all-English semi-final next week

Djokovic (left) already surpassed Rafael Nadal to become the player with the most Grand Slam titles

Carlos Alcaraz (pictured) is one of those in the field who is being backed to challenge the Serb

LLOYD’S LAST FOUR

WOMEN: Gauff v Garcia, Rybakina v Muchova. 

Final: Gauff v Rybakina. 

Winner: Rybakina

MEN: Djokovic v Sinner, Alcaraz v Murray. 

Final: Djokovic v Alcaraz. 

Winner: Djokovic

 

Who can stop the Serbian winning 

Carlos Alcaraz

The guy’s an animal, and after watching him at Queen’s he’s a genuine contender to win. In the first round he was lucky to get through and I was thinking, boy he’s got a long way to go. 

But he just grew in the next three matches — it’s like he went from 10 years old to 25 in a week, in terms of learning to play on grass.

He’s been watching videos of current and former players on grass and you can see he’s just soaking it in, like a sponge. 

If he does get to the final, which I think he will, he’ll have learned even more. He’s dangerous and will be tough to beat.Who else can stop him?

Jannik Sinner

You have to have big guns to beat Djokovic and Sinner has those. Great draw through to semis. Hubert Hurkacz

Could trouble Djokovic in potential fourth round. Has weapons with his serve and power hitting.

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