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A day after his “pain-free” exhibition win over Daniil Medvedev in London, Novak Djokovic declared he was ready for Wimbledon and said he would not adjust his game to protect his operated right knee.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion and seven-time Wimbledon winner is ready to go all-in.

“I don’t see myself holding back. I don’t see myself being calculating or a little more cautious in my movements. I don’t see that happening,” Djokovic told reporters at a pre-tournament press conference on Saturday. “I’m really going all out. I’m giving it my all. I mean, that’s how I’ve played my whole career.”

When a reporter asked Djokovic why he would even risk returning to the court so soon after surgery, the player said his wife had asked him the same question.

Djokovic, who has yet to reach the final of any tournament in 2024, described his “incredible desire to play, just to compete,” adding that Wimbledon in particular has held a special place in his heart since childhood.

So, Djokovic continued, “the thought that I would miss Wimbledon just wasn’t right. I didn’t want to deal with that.”

He explained that while he had had “big doubts” about whether he would make it to the All England Club after being injured at the French Open on June 3, he was much more optimistic after a week of training on the grass courts of the major, which begins on Monday.

“All the days I’ve spent here,” he said, “give me only positive signs and encourage me to really think – not just think, but feel – that I can do it.”

His first-round match against qualifier Vit Kopriva is scheduled for Tuesday. Djokovic is the third betting favorite after world number one Jannik Sinner and reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz.

“I didn’t come here to play a few rounds and prove to myself and others that I can actually compete in one or two matches. I really want to win the title,” said Djokovic, who is seeded second behind Sinner and finished second to Alcaraz at Wimbledon last year. “The last three days have given me enough optimism and good signs that I can hopefully actually be in shape to play at the highest level in the next few weeks.”

The 37-year-old Serb was injured in his five-set victory over Francisco Cerundulo in the fourth round of the Roland Garros tennis tournament, withdrew before his scheduled quarterfinals and underwent surgery in Paris on June 5.

After wearing grey tights on his right leg during practice sessions at the All England Club with players including Australian Open champion Sinner, 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev and Frances Tiafoe, Djokovic said there had been no setbacks and he was “confident about the health of my knee”.

Djokovic said he had had “extensive conversations” with other athletes who had recovered from similar knee surgeries – including tennis players Taylor Fritz and Stan Wawrinka and former Olympic ski champion Lindsey Vonn.

In 2021, Fritz injured his knee at the French Open and returned to competition three weeks later at Wimbledon.

Alcaraz said he thought Djokovic was superhuman for being able to come back so quickly. When this comment was relayed to Djokovic, he grinned.

“Well, not really. I think Taylor Fritz is a superhuman. He recovered in 21 days. I had a little more time,” Djokovic said.

“From the point of view of the doctors and specialists, it may not be ideal. Usually they would say it’s between three and six weeks. The closer it is to six weeks, the better, because you don’t want to risk too much and you want to give your knee and your body time,” he said. “But it’s also individual. It’s very subjective. Everyone reacts differently to recovery, to the injury, to rehab, to exercises.”

(AP contributed to reporting)