“That’s why I keep playing,” Novak Djokovic fully motivated to win his 25th Grand Slam at the Roland Garros

Novak Djokovic has won the French Open only three times in his career and the last time he won there was in 2023.

“That’s why I keep playing,” Novak Djokovic fully motivated to win his 25th Grand Slam at the Roland Garros

Novak Djokovic (Image via X/We Are Tennis)

Novak Djokovic hit an important milestone in his career at the Geneva Open where he claimed his 100th career title. It was the former World No.1 first tour-level title since the ATP Finals in 2023. Oozing with confidence, he arrives at the Roland Garros to win his 25th Grand Slam.

Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam at the 2023 US Open, which makes him the men’s player with the most major titles in the Open Era. However, he’s tied with Margaret Court as the list of players with the most Slams. A title win at the Roland Garros will see him go top of the list of major title winners, while also ending the debate about who is the greatest player of all time.

This comes just after Djokovic rallied himself back to form at the Geneva Open. He had entered the tournament without a win since March. Also, he had not won any clay matches after competing in Monte Carlo and Madrid. But in Geneva, he won three consecutive matches to reach his second final of the season.

Then in the final against Hubert Hurkacz, he came from behind to beat the Polish star in a long and exhausting battle. The 38-year-old defeated Hurkacz 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) to win his first title since claiming the Olympic gold medal. He became the third player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category to reach 100 titles.

Only Jim Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) have won more titles than him. During an interview with Sportklub, he revealed the victory at Geneva has given him the mobility to win his 25th Grand Slam. He added that he only lacked consistency in his game for the past year.

I have to be realistic. Considering the last year and a half… I won gold, I played in the finals of Wimbledon, Shanghai and Miami, I was close to triumph, but the continuity of good games is not there. I had come close to winning some important titles in recent months, but consistency is still lacking. I keep looking for confidence, the level of play, and the mobility to win another Grand Slam. That’s what I want the most and why I keep playing.

Novak Djokovic said

Djokovic has won the French Open three times in his career, last lifting the title in 2023. Last year, he failed to defend it after sustaining a knee injury, which forced him to withdraw from the tournament in the quarter-finals. He is among the top contenders to win the Roland Garros this year after Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner.

Novak Djokovic says the Geneva Open was his last chance to reach 100 career titles

Novak Djokovic has been heavily criticized this season for not being at his best on several occasions. The former World No.1 had only suffered 13 first-round losses in his career dating back to 2004. This year, he’s had four first-round losses, the most in a given year in his career. But at the Geneva Open, he fought hard and claimed an important victory to win his 100th title. He opened up about what the title win means to him:

Novak Djokovic (2)
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/Jose Morgado)

Opportunities like this won’t be so common for me, so I was very nervous and stressed because I knew this tournament could be one of my last chances to reach 100 titles. I’m glad to have broken the ice by achieving that longed-for victory that many people asked me about. I’ve put a lot of pressure on myself with this, so winning the title is a relief.

Djokovic will face Mackenzie McDonald in the first round. The American currently sits as No.98 in the ATP rankings. It will be their first meeting on the tour as Djokovic hopes to open his French Open campaign with a brilliant win.

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