Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj has shared his insights on the upcoming Wimbledon 2026 tournament, discussing Serena Williams‘ return, Novak Djokovic‘s enduring mental strength, and the open nature of women’s tennis. Amritraj, who reached the quarterfinals of the grass Major in 1973 and 1981, offered his perspective ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to begin on Monday.
Amritraj, a JioStar expert, spoke to media on JioStar Media Day, reflecting on various aspects of the sport. He highlighted the challenges facing players, particularly regarding scheduling and the physical demands of modern tennis.
Serena Williams’ improbable return
Regarding Serena Williams‘ return to tennis at the age of 44, Amritraj expressed that a comeback similar to her past performances would be a significant long shot. He drew an analogy to Muhammad Ali‘s return to boxing, suggesting that time affects all athletes.
Amritraj believes that while Williams has achieved unparalleled success in women’s tennis, winning a Major at her age with family commitments is improbable, though not impossible. He speculated that her motivation might stem from the joy of playing and wanting her daughters to see her compete, possibly in doubles.
Djokovic’s mental fortitude and Wimbledon chances
Novak Djokovic, at 39 years old, arrived at the All England Club to prepare for Wimbledon, seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title. Amritraj underscored Djokovic‘s exceptional mental capacity and temperament as key factors in his continued success, especially in tight matches.
Despite the emergence of younger Grand Slam winners, Amritraj believes Djokovic remains a formidable contender. He noted that Djokovic‘s ability to recover after demanding five-set matches presents his biggest challenge due to age and physical strain. Djokovic‘s commitment to his physical conditioning was also highlighted.
Djokovic‘s 2026 season has demonstrated his high level of play, including a strong performance at the Australian Open where he defeated Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals. However, his subsequent five months have shown the difficulty of maintaining consistent top-level performance, with health issues impacting his participation in tournaments like Indian Wells and Rome.
Wimbledon, where Djokovic has previously won seven times, is seen as a favourable venue for him to potentially secure another Grand Slam. The grass courts, with their shorter points, suit his aggressive, first-strike tennis style, which requires less sustained physicality.
Women’s tennis and Sinner’s title defence
Amritraj observed that women’s tennis has become more competitive since the departure of the Williams sisters, with many players performing at a similar standard. He noted that it is challenging to predict a clear winner, contrasting it with the dominance seen in men’s tennis by players like Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.
While Aryna Sabalenka was identified as a strong contender on grass due to her powerful game, Amritraj suggested that other players have identified weaknesses in her play. He anticipates upsets in the early stages of the tournament, particularly on grass, which he noted has evolved from its historically quicker nature.
With Alcaraz absent from this year’s tournament due to a right-wrist injury, the men’s field presents an opportunity for other players. Sinner, the defending champion, will aim to bounce back from a tough loss at Roland Garros. His training sessions at the All England Club included practice with Djokovic on Court No 1.
Sinner‘s previous season included dominating the clay-court season, becoming the second player after Rafael Nadal to sweep the Masters 1000 tournaments in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. His resilience and ability to learn from defeats will be crucial as he defends his Wimbledon title.
The tournament, running from June 29 to July 12, will be broadcast live on JioHotstar and Star Sports Network.
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Source: sportstar.thehindu.com
