Novak Djokovic is launching his last offer for a record title of the 25th Grand Chelem at the Open of France, in the hope of fighting his years in advance and putting an end to a expectation of 10 months for his 100th victory of the ATP tournament. The 38 -year -old man had trouble doing his best since his defeat of Carlos Alcaraz to win Olympic gold in Paris last year and returned to Roland Garros shortly after his separation from the coach and former rival Andy Murray. “I know what it takes to be a Grand Slam champion,” said Djokovic, speaking before this week’s warm -up event in Geneva.
“It is not as fluid and easy for me as 10 years ago. Obviously, things change and my life has changed a lot, but for (the) better, to be honest.”
The Serbian proved to various points this year that the old magic has not completely disappeared, with protruding facts, including his Australian victory in the quarterfinals on Alcaraz and a race for the Miami Masters final.
But a defeat in this match with the teenager Jakub Mensik was followed by consecutive outings in his opening matches at the Masters of Monte Carlo and the Madrid Open, against Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi respectively.
Djokovic has already lost six times this year in players outside the top 30 of the world.
“Trying to win a match or two, without really thinking about going to the tournament,” admitted Djokovic after his defeat against Arnaldi in Madrid.
“It is a completely different feeling of what I had in 20 years and more professional tennis.
“It is a challenge for me mentally to really face these kinds of sensations on the field, coming out early now in tournaments.”
Djokovic, the last active member of the “ Big Three ” after the pensions of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, has been classified outside the first three of the world since last September.
The former world number one equaled the record of all time of Margaret short of 24 single -slam titles at the US Open 2023.
However, he had five attempts to set an outright record since without success, with the effort closest to a final defeat of Wimbledon by Alcaraz last year.
The injuries had an impact, Djokovic withdrawing from the France 2024 Open before the quarter-finals and withdrawing from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev in Melbourne four months ago.
Djokovic chose not to play the Italian Open, which was won by Alcaraz on Sunday, and heats up rather for Roland Garros during a discreet event in Geneva.
“A little more difficult”
Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz, world number one, are the two favorites of the French Open, but Djokovic will always want his chances of a deep race.
The triple champion may have lost his two games on clay so far this year, but he has won the last big tournament disappeared from his curriculum vitae at the Paris Olympic Games.
“Whenever I walk on the field, I feel the nerves, I feel stress, I feel everything I suppose that all the other players feel and excitement too,” he said last month.
“(Competition) has become a little more difficult for me, to be honest. But of course, I will do my best for the future.”
It was presented as the draw of the men of Roland Garros the most open in the decades given the form of Djokovic and the absence of the retired nadal, but Djokovic has often rebounded categorically when it is counted in the past.
The last time his future has been seriously questioned a defeat in the quarter -final of the 2018 France Open against Marco Cecchinato when he was hampered by an elbow injury, which saw him abandon the top 20 of the world.
At the time, Djokovic responded by winning Wimbledon a month later and was the world number one by the end of the year.
He will hope for the next form in shape during his illustrious career will start in Paris in the coming weeks.
“I think I still have the game, that I can be one of the contenders for the best titles in the Grand Slam,” said Djokovic.
(With the exception of the title, this story has not been published by NDTV staff and is published from a unionized flow.)
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