Novak Djokovic hoping to peak at French Open

World No 3 Novak Djokovic hasn’t had the best preparation for the French Open due to injury woes but hopes to kick on at Roland Garros.

Djokovic will kick off his campaign on Monday 29 May against 24-year-old American Aleksandar Kovacevic.

Novak Djokovic sets sights on third French Open title

Despite not managing to win a title on clay this season, Djokovic is upbeat about his Grand Salm hopes.

“I know how to, how to manage myself and my team and look, you know, I haven’t had a fantastic preparation prior to Roland-Garros,” Djokovic said according to Eurosport.

“But, you know, I’m always saying that Roland-Garros is where I want to peak. So I’m, I’m aiming for that and I’m hoping that I come to life and come to reality here.”

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Five-set GOAT Novak Djokovic

The 22-time Major champion believes that Grand Slam tennis is almost a different sport, and takes confidence from being arguably the best in the world at five-set tennis.

The former French Open champion said: “I actually think that the, the grand slams are a whole different ball game as they like to say, or a whole different sport really because it, it’s played in, you know, best of five. 

“I think because of the importance of this event in the history of our sport, it just adds a bit more pressure, it adds also a bit more motivation. So I’m ready to give it all as, as I always have.”

The Serbian admitted that he is targeting a third French Open title, saying: “I think, well, I hope that experience can help me and route to hopefully another title. But, you know, we have to take things step by step on one match at a time.”

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Missing his great rival at the French Open

Djokovic admits that the announcement by Rafael Nadal that he would quit after the 2024 season has given him pause for thought.

Nadal will miss the French Open for the first time since his tournament debut in 2005.

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 “When I heard the news, obviously, it’s a great chance for me and the other guys to maybe get hands on the title,” Djokovic said.

“But at the same time, you’re right, you wanna beat the best players in the world, the most dominant player here and, and on your way to the title.

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 “At the same time it, it, you know, it made me wonder and, and question myself and, and where, where the end of my career is going to be and how, so because, you know, we all knew that that might be coming around the corner because of his injuries and everything and, and of course, the age and the amount of years he has played on the tour.

“But still, when he announced that his, the next season will be his last season. It still came as a bit of a shock, you know, to, to me and, so I, I kind of, you know, have this internal conversations with myself as well.”

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