If anyone can win Wimbledon at 39, its Novak Djokovic, says former great Vijay Amritraj

As the tennis calendar reaches its most iconic stop in England, Wimbledon 2026 gets underway with history on the line, rising stars in the spotlight, and blockbuster contests ahead.

Speaking during JioStar Media Day ahead of Wimbledon 2026, Vijay Amritraj shared his views on Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of history, Jannik Sinner’s title defence, and India’s prospects of finding success at the Championships.

“You can’t talk about Wimbledon without mentioning Djokovic. You have to wonder what drives him to keep going after everything he has already achieved. He has won more singles titles than any other male in history, and no one is going to catch him, certainly not in my lifetime. He is chasing a 25th Grand Slam for no other reason than his pure passion and desire to keep working,” said Amritraj.

“When you look at Sinner and what happened to him in Paris, yes the heat was extreme, but to lose from that position in five sets, and then to come back the way he has done before, like in Australia when he faced Djokovic and later won Indian Wells and Miami, it shows he is here to stay. He is the real deal. He is going to win multiple Grand Slams. We are all waiting for Alcaraz to return. And there will be new confidence players like Zverev, who won the French Open. He will think, ‘The pressure is off. I have won my first major. Now I believe I can win Wimbledon too,” he added.

Novak Djokovic

On Novak Djokovic’s chances of winning Wimbledon at 39, the Indian said: “The question on everyone’s mind is whether Djokovic can win Wimbledon at 39. If anyone can do it, it’s him. He has the mental strength, the physical fitness, and the experience. He is as strong mentally as he is physically. He knows exactly what it takes to win Grand Slams. If he ends up playing two five-set matches in the first week, it will take a toll on his body. No doubt. He needs to keep those long matches to a minimum. Winning in straight sets or four sets will make a big difference. He must get through three matches in the first week. By the time, the fourth round comes around on Sunday or Monday, if he has conserved energy, he will be in good shape for the second week. The other factor is the draw. Some of the big names, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev, or even Jannik Sinner could lose early. If the draw opens up, that could work in his favour. There are always unknowns. But does he have a chance? I believe he does.”

On whether Jannik Sinner will find it easy to defend his Wimbledon title in Carlos Alcaraz’s absence, Amritraj said: “Winning Wimbledon requires seven wins against top players, no matter who is in the draw. The grass surface takes getting used to, even though it’s different from what it used to be. The adjustment period is real; players need a match or two to get their footwork right and read the bounce. Early rounds are always tricky. Conditions like heat, bounce, and the thickness of the grass can all play a part. That is why we often see upsets in the first week, just like we saw in Paris. As for Sinner, he is the defending champion and one of the best players in the world. He has the game to go all the way. Even with the absence of Alcaraz, it would still not be easy. He will have to beat whoever is in front of him. The draw is always unpredictable, and the pressure of being the defending champion adds its own weight. By the time the second week begins, the tournament will be in full flow, and the focus will shift to whoever is still standing.”

Happy Slam: Serena and Venus Williams

On Serena and Venus Williams and their legacy in tennis history, Amritraj said: “When it comes to the Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, especially Serena, time waits for no one. She has won more Grand Slams than anyone in the history of tennis. She is the greatest female player of the modern era. No question about it. One has to wonder what would drive her to come back at 44 to compete against younger players. It’s a long shot for her to reach the level she once had. The expectations she has for herself will be very high. Maybe she just loves playing. If it’s just the joy of tennis, she can play doubles and be perfectly happy. She is playing because she wants her daughters to see her on court. I understand that. But the reality of winning a major at 44, with a family to manage, it’s not impossible, but it’s certainly improbable.”

On whether Indian players like Yuki Bhambri could challenge for a doubles title at Wimbledon 2026, he said: “The doubles draw at Wimbledon is always quite open. I think our Indian players always have a good chance in doubles. There can be upsets in the draw. Seeds can lose early. Not that the seeded teams are far superior anyway. The seeded teams in doubles carry more pressure, while the unseeded teams play more freely. Our players have always done well in doubles. It will be interesting to see how they perform in the early rounds and, of course, in the later stages as well. Over the last decade or so, India has focused a lot on doubles. But at the end of the day, tennis is about singles. In Davis Cup, we need four points from singles and one from doubles. Yes, I do believe these guys can win a Grand Slam in doubles. They all have that potential. It would be fantastic if someone could follow in Rohan Bopanna’s footsteps. No doubt about that. But truly, we need four strong singles players for Davis Cup.”