I admire Djokovic’s mental strength and never-give-up attitude, says Deepti Sharma

As Wimbledon 2026 gathers momentum, Indian cricket all-rounder Deepti Sharma ticked off a long-cherished bucket-list moment by attending The Championships for the very first time.

Speaking to JioStar, Deepti Sharma reflected on the experience, her admiration for Novak Djokovic, the similarities she sees between Djokovic and MS Dhoni under pressure, and the tennis legends who inspired her growing up.

“My dream was that one day I would come to watch a Wimbledon match, and it feels really good to finally be here. When you go to watch a match at an iconic venue like this, and when you have always seen it on TV but today you are seeing it live for the first time, it feels amazing. The atmosphere, the crowd, the energy – everything is different. I am really enjoying watching tennis at Wimbledon. It just feels great,” Deepti said on JioStar.

Novak Djokovic is Deepti Sharma’s favourite tennis player

On the tennis player she admires the most, the Indian star said: “My favourite is (Novak) Djokovic. I follow his game very closely. The way he fights on the court, his mental strength, and his never-give-up attitude, I really admire all of that. Watching him play is always inspiring.”

Djokovic and Dhoni handle pressure well: Deepti

On how MS Dhoni, like Djokovic, handles pressure with calmness, she said: “When you talk about Djokovic, everyone speaks about his mental strength. He is someone who never gives up, no matter how tough the situation is. In cricket, I think MS Dhoni sir is very similar. He is known for being very cool and calm. Whenever pressure situations come, he handles them really well. It never looks like he is in a difficult situation. He handles pressure so easily. Both Djokovic and Dhoni have that rare quality of staying calm and strong when it matters the most. Watching them, we learn how to stay calm and find a way out of tough situations.”

On the tennis legends she has followed over the years, the spinner said: “I grew up watching greats like (Roger) Federer and (Rafael) Nadal. I followed their matches closely for a long time. But lately, Djokovic has become my favourite. I follow his matches more than anyone else now.”

On whom she would like to watch Wimbledon with, Deepti said: “I would choose three people to take with me, Sachin Tendulkar sir, Ravi Shastri sir, and Sunil Gavaskar sir. They are all legends in their own right, and I think watching tennis with them would be a great experience. They have so much knowledge about sports, and I would love to hear their thoughts and analysis while watching the matches.”