Wimbledon Match: Stan Warwinka thinks he “doesn’t stand a chance” against Novak Djokovic, who he will face for the 27th time in his career and for the first time at Wimbledon.
On Thursday, the 38-year-old defeated Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-2 to set up a third-round encounter with the seven-time Wimbledon winner, who had defeated Jordan Thompson the day before to continue his quest for an eighth title and fifth since 2018.
In the pair’s head-to-head, Warwinka has six wins to Djokovic’s 20, including triumphs in the finals of the 2016 US Open and the 2015 French Open.
“I think it’d be great to play him at least once here on grass,” Warwinka remarked. “It’ll be my first time at Wimbledon. Of course, I’m eager, and I’m thrilled to get the opportunity to play against him after playing in every other Grand Slam and several other events. So it’ll be my first time on grass, and it’ll be fantastic.”
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam trophy Warwinka has failed to win, with his greatest performances coming in back-to-back quarter-finals appearances in 2014 and 2015.
With Djokovic on the horizon, he admitted that his fortunes were unlikely to change this year.
“I don’t think I have a chance to win Wimbledon,” he continued. “I’m delighted to have won again today. I thought it was a fantastic contest. I’m getting better with each match, and as I said, it’s a pleasure to play Novak here. I was losing out on playing him in the Grand Slam at Wimbledon.
“That’s the last time I’ve ever played him, and it’ll be a difficult challenge. I’m hoping to play a competitive match, but based on previous outcomes, I don’t stand a chance.”
While downplaying his prospects, Warwinka did give himself credit for rising to the occasion in previous landmark triumphs against Djokovic, some of which he will try to rely on when he faces the former world No. 1 on Friday.
“It was a part of my career where I was playing at such a high level that I knew when I stepped onto the court against Novak in a Grand Slam, I was going to be able to beat him,” he added. “I have a strong game from the baseline to the forehand and backhand, and I was physically prepared to compete with him. I had some incredible matches, probably the two best matches of my career in the French Open and the US Open.”
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