Can Eastbourne help Novak Djokovic get back on track in time for Wimbledon?

Novak Djokovic has chosen the Sunshine coast as his destination of choice this year for a pre-Wimbledon warm-up as he looks to get back on track after what has been a difficult year for the world no. 4.

It’s a timely addition to the AEGON International and with some very accomplished male players already taking part in the Eastbourne tournament, the addition of Djokovic will only add to the prestige and excitement of the event.

Since the news broke at the beginning of this week that Djokovic accepted the wildcard offer from the LTA, much has been made of the 30-year-old’s impending appearance on the courts of Devonshire Park; rightly so because Djokovic is rarely seen at Wimbledon warm-up events. In fact it’s the first time in seven years the Serbian has taken to a grass court warm-up tournament in-between the French Open and Wimbledon.

So if you ask me, Eastbourne is privileged to have someone who is widely regarded as one of the best male tennis players ever to grace the courts. And with his presence known it just goes to show what a great job the team at Eastbourne and in particular Gavin Fletcher has done with the event.

In previous years, Djokovic has always arrived at Wimbledon in great shape and not to mention superb form. But so far this year, his season has not gone to plan. He’s struggled for form and that air of invincibility that surrounded the world no.4 has somewhat disappeared as of late.

But, despite his topsy turvy season, counting Djokovic out of another Wimbledon crown would be a rather foolish thing to do. We’ve seen the current unpredictable nature of the men’s tour firsthand this week.

At Queens, Jordan Thompson’s victory over British no.1 and world no.1 Andy Murray is testament that anyone can beat anyone in the beautiful game of tennis. But at the same time, you cannot get away from the fact that Djokovic has been below par so far this season.