Djokovic to play Queen's Club tournament

Serbia's Novak Djokovic will take part in the Queen's Club tournament, a tuning-up contest for Wimbledon, Britain's Lawn Tennis Association announced.

"I am very excited to be playing the Fever-Tree Championships again. I have happy memories of reaching the final at The Queen's Club 10 years ago and also winning the doubles title," the LTA's website cited Djokovic as saying on Monday.

"The atmosphere is always great and I am looking forward to playing in front of the British crowd again," Djokovic, the 2008 Queen's Club runner-up to Spain's Rafael Nadal, added.

The grass tournament will kick off on June 18, and the final is scheduled for June 24, reports Efe.

"After the exciting events in Rome and Paris, I'm ready for new challenges. Grass is very special, it is the rarest of surfaces so I'm happy I'll have the opportunity to compete at this strong tournament," he continued.

Djokovic, the former world No. 1, lost in the 2018 Italian Open semi-finals to Nadal, who went on to clinch the title, and then he was shocked by Italy's Marco Cecchinato in the French Open quarter-finals.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion, who last won a major title in 2016, hopes to regain top form as he has been struggling with right elbow issues that marred his last few seasons and required surgery.

Djokovic said that the tournament will "be a great preparation for Wimbledon," which gets under way on July 2 at the All England Club.

--IANS

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