First things first: Novak Djokovic’s right knee is fine. Well, as fine as could possibly be expected given he had surgery on it 24 days ago. He is ready to play.

It was all anyone cared about as the seven-time Wimbledon champion faced the world’s media on Saturday. He knew it. We knew it. So he cut straight to the chase.

Press conferences are slightly strange affairs; they have their own etiquette and rhythm. We start with a vague and general question to get the conversation started and then move towards the pressing issues of the day with as much haste as is deemed decent. Djokovic was having none of that.

“Go straight to the knee conversation, I guess,” he said. “Save everyone the time.”

A relieved and grateful group of journalists settled back in their chairs. Djokovic is a professional in all things; he knew what we wanted. Yes, when he had surgery to repair a torn meniscus straight after withdrawing at Roland-Garros, he did not have great hopes of being able to play here. But, yes, he has been practising hard and well this past week in SW19 and – so far – he has had no setbacks of any kind. The knee is feeling fine.

“It's been a week of training,” he said. “Very good week of training. I had, particularly the last three days, very intense tennis sessions. I had points, practice sets played with Sinner, with Frances Tiafoe, with Medvedev yesterday, and Emil Ruusuvuori, actually double session, and then today with Rune, as well.

“Really top players that are playing great tennis on grass. High intensity. Lots of situations on the court where the knee is tested to almost the maximum. Change of directions, so forth.

“The knee has responded very well to all of that so far, which of course is a great sign for my participation in Wimbledon. That's why I decided to be in the draw.”

Djokovic is no fan of operations – very few people are – so the speed with which he took the decision to go under the surgeon’s knife was a surprise. When he had his elbow issues in 2017, he tried everything to solve the problem until, after almost a year of pain and rehab, he gave in and had surgery at the start of 2019. This time, the decision was almost instant. 

“I was very much in doubt of making Wimbledon, he said. “Then after extensive conversations with certain athletes that have been through very similar situations, for example Taylor Fritz, who has been through something pretty much the same like I have three years ago. I think he injured himself also in Roland-Garros. He said 21 days after he played his first round in Wimbledon. Wawrinka, (skier) Lindsey Vonn – they all shared their experiences.

“Really, that gave me faith and optimism that if rehab is done right and correct, and if of course the knee responds well, which is something that is very unpredictable, then there is a pretty good chance that I'll make Wimbledon.”

The news was good, then. But at the age of 37 and with the Olympics on the horizon – and the US Open, where he is the defending champion, coming fast after that – why on earth had he taken the risk? Why not recuperate slowly and carefully to be fit enough for the challenges ahead?

We were not the only ones who wanted to know the answer to this. Mrs Djokovic had asked her husband exactly the same question as her beloved pushed himself through the rehab process. As it turns out, the answer was simple: because it’s Wimbledon.

“I do have something that is described as a feeling of not missing out at a Grand Slam while I can still play and while I'm still active and at this level,” he said, trying to make sense of the thought process he went through.

“I wouldn't call it a fear of missing out. I would just say it's this incredible desire to play, just to compete. Particularly because it is Wimbledon, the tournament that always has been a dream tournament for me when I was a kid. I always dreamed of playing Wimbledon. Just the thought of me missing Wimbledon was just not correct. I didn't want to deal with that.

“It's probably less of a rational and logical explanation, but more of that inner feeling and sensation of really great desire to play Wimbledon.”

If his explanation was somewhat convoluted – he did not reveal what Mrs D thought of it – his plans for the coming Fortnight were crystal clear. 

“I said a few days ago, I didn't come here to play a few rounds and prove to myself and others that I can actually compete in one or two matches,” he said with a steely look and an assassin’s smile. “I really want to go for the title.”