Novak Djokovic, the most-famous Serbian in the world and 24-time Grand Slam winner, is prepping for the French Open. The tournament begins May 25th! With his 38th birthday just three days away, Djokovic now finds himself at a crossroads. The tournament that lies ahead will be make or break for his tenure. Even with recent disappointments, including first-round exits at Masters events in Monte Carlo and Madrid, the Canadian is still an overwhelming threat.
Last year, Djokovic put on an incredible performance to win tennis’ first Olympic gold medal in Paris. He’s beaten Carlos Alcaraz in the Roland Garros final. In 2023, he’s been putting on a show. By winning three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, he has certainly cemented his position as one of the greats of sport. His recent withdrawal from the ongoing Italian Open has cast doubt about his current form.
Djokovic’s Path to Rediscovery
Desperate to find some of that rhythm, Djokovic has taken a wild card entry into this week’s Geneva Open. This decision comes on the heels of a tough month of tennis where he suffered some shocking early-round defeats. Djokovic’s decision to play Geneva shows he is serious about getting his game sharpened up before arriving in Paris.
World number two Alexander Zverev was confident that Djokovic would be back in top form soon. And for Zverev to say that the struggles Djokovic has had lately, or this season really, take away from him, that’s not the case.
“There’s no question about his ability at all,” – Alexander Zverev
Zverev noted that even the best players go through challenging periods, stating, “Maybe he didn’t play up to his standard or his liking, but who does sometimes? If you’re a top guy and you’re not winning the tournament, you always go home a little bit upset.”
The Road Ahead for Djokovic
While Djokovic prepares for the French Open, he’s chasing his 100th tour-level title. Given his record of extraordinary accomplishments over his career, expectations have been sky-high for what he might do in this role. Those recent results have sparked conversations about whether he can keep up the pace and fire of the game at this level of competition long-term.
Zverev remains optimistic about Djokovic’s future prospects. Once Djokovic gets his game back, he’ll be the biggest threat to everybody on the court, according to him.
“I believe once he finds his game, he’s still one of the most dangerous players in the world,” – Zverev
Yet, Zverev also raised an important consideration.
“It’s more whether he still wants to put in the work. That’s a question to him. His tennis ability is above everyone else’s.” – Zverev
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