ATP Tour

Wu ready for 'dream' Djokovic Wimbledon clash: 'Novak is the GOAT'

For many players, seeing Novak Djokovic's name appear next to theirs in the Wimbledon draw can trigger mixed emotions. Excitement perhaps, but also the reality of what comes with it: Centre Court, the spotlight, and the challenge of facing one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen.

Wu Yibing viewed it differently.

“I was very happy with the draw. I could not believe it,” Wu told ATPTour.com in London. “To play Djokovic here on Centre Court at Wimbledon is many players' dream, including mine. For me, he is the GOAT of tennis and I can’t wait.”

Monday’s clash on Centre Court will mark the first Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting between the two and just the second time in Wu's career that he has played on the main show court at a major. The first came at the 2022 US Open, when he lost to Daniil Medvedev under the lights on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

But facing Djokovic at Wu’s favourite tournament carries a different kind of weight.

Djokovic has made The Championships feel like home for much of the past decade. The Serbian has lost a completed match just three times on Centre Court since 2016, with those defeats coming to Carlos Alcaraz (twice) and World No. 1 Jannik Sinner.

The 39-year-old has built one of the sport’s most formidable records on the grass in southwest London, turning the court into a place where players have chased the chance to challenge him. Wu now gets his turn.

“I am just looking forward to it all,” Wu added. “The chance to play on Centre Court and against Djokovic after all the things he has achieved in his career and in his life is incredible. He is a role model for all of the tennis players. For me, Djokovic is one of the most all round players ever in history and an idol and I am just very excited to face him here.

“He is near the end of his career and you won’t get that many chances to face him again, so I was happy the draw was like this and I will try my best to bring all the energy and really enjoy the match and the experience.”

While Wu may not have previously played Djokovic in a tour-level match, he will be able to lean on the experience he shared with the record 24-time major champion in a training block in Monte-Carlo eight years ago.

The then-18-year-old spent time training with his idol in the Principality and opened up on that opportunity.

“I did practise with him a long time ago," Wu said. "About eight years ago we spent off season together in Monte-Carlo and it was a great experience and good for my development.

“We trained together, hit cross court, played points, had a good fun session and the intensity he practised with was amazing. It was a great opportunity and experience for me to have as a young player. He was very friendly and always has been very friendly to me and he does speak some Chinese words too which is nice. He is just such a nice guy.”

Wu’s own journey to this moment has not followed a straightforward path.

The former US Open boys’ champion became the first Chinese man to win an ATP Tour title in Dallas in 2023 and rose to a career-high No. 54 in the PIF ATP Rankings. Yet the past three years – since his only previous Wimbledon appearance – has also brought a different challenge of repeated injuries.

“The three years there has been a lot of hard work and setbacks," said Wu, who lost to Frances Tiafoe in his only previous Wimbledon appearance. "It is not easy for a player to come back from different injuries, but now I am healthy again, I play most of the tournaments again that I want, which is really great for me.

“Players don’t want to have injuries but this is something my team and I have been working on daily to avoid more in the future. Having a good training load and making sure I recover well. It is not easy but I trust my tennis and the process.”

Wu has had surgery on his left foot and lower back issues but has been able to frequently compete on Tour in 2026. Back inside the Top 100, the 26-year-old has won an ATP Challenger title in the United States, reached the quarter-finals in Acapulco and earned victories at the Australian Open and Roland Garros.

“When you get hurt the first thought is to just get back on Tour and not think too much on the results,” Wu said. “But now I have overcome the period of time, I have started to face different problems and I have been thinking more about where to play, what my results are like on court. There has been some good weeks and it continues to push you and it is the fun of the sport. There is always the next challenge.”

And on Monday, that next challenge could hardly be much bigger. Centre Court. Wimbledon. Djokovic. For many, it would be a draw to avoid. For Wu, it is one to embrace.