Preview: Vit Kopriva vs. Novak Djokovic - prediction, form, head-to-head

Last year's Wimbledon runner-up Novak Djokovic begins this year's Championships keen to avoid a shock first-round exit against Vit Kopriva.

The seven-time champion was an injury doubt after withdrawing from the French Open due to a knee issue requiring surgery, and the Serb aims to allay fears against an opponent making only his second Grand Slam appearance.

Match preview

© Reuters

Many feared that Djokovic's bid for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title had gone up in smoke after his injury-enforced French Open withdrawal needed surgery.

The 24-time Slam champion had overcome back-to-back epic five-setters in the third and fourth rounds in Paris, only for a knee injury sustained in the latter against Francisco Cerundolo to put paid to his attempts to claim a fourth title at Roland Garros.

Having undergone surgery at the start of June, the Serbian No. 2 seed has surprisingly made it to the Championships, despite hinting in the lead-up to his tournament opener that doctors wanted him to rest the knee for six weeks.

It remains to be seen if the seven-time champion is anywhere close to his best level, even if he has come out of practice matches in London unscathed.

Even at 37, a healthy Djokovic typically would be the favourite at Wimbledon despite his advanced years; however, a 37-year-old just recovering from knee surgery, without competitive grass-court action and winless all year probably is not.

While the Serb's situation suggests this year's men's singles draw is more open than in previous years, Kopriva enters the first-round match as the underdog against his highly experienced opponent.

Tuesday will be the Czechia player's second match at a Grand Slam, having made his debut at this year's Australian Open in a first-round exit, even if he got plaudits after forcing a thrilling five-setter out of American Sebastian Korda.

The 27-year-old made it to the main draw after a successful run in qualifying culminating in success against former world No. 7 Richard Gasquet last week after wins against Henri Squire and Hugo Dellien.

Facing Djokovic is a different proposition entirely, and the No. 123 player taking a set off his more illustrious opponent will be seen as a success.

Kopriva will look to play without fear against the No. 2 seed, a necessity for anyone desiring to upset arguably the sport's greatest player.

Head To Head

Tuesday's first-round match at Wimbledon will be the first between Djokovic and Kopriva on any surface.

The favourite has not had a top season, underlined by entering the third Slam of the year without a title win and a 75% win rate, a more than decent return for most players but an undoubted dip for the Serbian.

We say: Djokovic to win in three sets

Regardless of Djokovic's knee issues in the lead-up to this year's Championships, the seven-time winner remains a sure-fire favourite to win in straight sets against his Czechia opponent.

The Serb did not drop a set until the fourth round in the 2023 tournament, and while the unseeded man will back himself to take the 24-time Slam winner to four, that ambition is not anticipated to be successful.