Novak Djokovic hopes hiking trip inspires him to return to top form

Novak Djokovic hopes a hiking trip with his wife Jelena can inspire him to get back to the top of the men’s game.

Djokovic reacted to a surprise French Open quarter-final defeat to little-known Marco Cecchinato by suggesting he might not play on grass this summer.

A five-day break put paid to that idea, though, and he opened his campaign with an authoritative 6-2 6-1 win over John Millman at the Fever-Tree Championship at Queen’s Club.

It has been two years since Djokovic last won a grand slam as he has struggled with motivation and injury issues.

But his romantic getaway helped clear his mind and he is ready to gun for the big titles again.

He said: “I was hiking with my wife with no kids for five days. It was a wonderful time after two years with not having a break only with her without kids, so we managed to do that.

“We were very far away from any tennis court, in nature, and it was the best way to clear the mind and just also have a possibility to slow down.

“I had four really, really quality days of training on the grass. I think that’s something that is very much needed, I feel like, for this surface, especially coming from clay.”

His chances of winning Queen’s will be tested in the next round, though as he meets second seed Grigor Dimitrov.

The Bulgarian needed three sets to get past Damir Dzumhur 6-3 6-7 (4/7) 6-3.

He said of the Djokovic match-up: “You have to go through matches like this in order for you to win a tournament. Whether it’s early rounds or late in the tournament, you still have to beat those kind of guys.

“You can see his level has dropped a little bit. Everybody can see this. It’s no secret. But again, I mean, he’s been there, done that. He’s won the tournaments.

“He’s been able to turn matches or, you know, I guess adversity and everything. So of course, I mean, I’m going to expect nothing but the best from him.”

Runner-up in 2016 Milos Raonic withdrew just hours after beating Yuki Bhambri.

“I’m really disappointed as I was playing well and I love this tournament – I have happy memories from reaching the final in 2016 and hoped to do so again.

“I wish the tournament another successful event, and I hope to be back in top shape and health for Wimbledon.”

Tomas Berdych was beaten 7-5 3-6 6-3 by French qualifier Julien Benneteau, while 2017 champion Feliciano Lopez got his defence under way with a 6-3 6-7 (7/9) 6-3 win over David Goffin.

Leonardo Mayer saw off Kevin Anderson, while Jeremy Chardy beat Tim Smyczek.