Toni Nadal Backs Novak Djokovic to Disrupt Jannik Sinner’s Hopes of Winning the French Open

In Carlos Alcaraz’s absence, everything seems to be pointing at another Grand Slam triumph for Jannik Sinner. The Italian star has never won the French Open in his career, and now has the opportunity to win the championship without breaking much sweat. But Toni Nadal believes Novak Djokovic has what it takes to upset Sinner at the event.

The French Open is set to kick off on Sunday (May 24) in Paris. A tournament that Djokovic last won in 2023. He reached the semi-finals of the Roland Garros last year before losing to Sinner in straight sets. Though he performed impressively, it was not enough to defeat an in-form Sinner.

However, Djokovic finally got the better of Sinner at the Australian Open in January. The Serbian legend defeated the World No.1 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 after more than four hours at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. The victory was Djokovic’s first win after Sinner defeated him four consecutive times on tour.

Currently, Sinner has won 51 of his last 53 matches on tour. He has not lost a match since February and has won five consecutive ATP Masters 1000 titles this season. The last tournament he failed to win a title was at the Doha Open in February. Besides that, Djokovic has played just three tournaments this year.

He has not won a match in more than two months. At the Italian Open, he failed to get past the second round after losing to Dino Prizmic. Speaking on Radioestadio Noche, Toni Nadal clearly pointed out that despite Djokovic’s inconsistent form this season, he’s the only player in the French Open that understands Sinner:

I remember his frustration at playing on clay, but he’s no [David] Ferrer, [Andy] Murray, [Stan] Wawrinka or [Juan Martin] Del Potro… He gave Sinner a bit of a run for his money, but in sport, everything can change overnight. You have to look at the calibre of the players you’re up against. And I remember that last year Djokovic clearly put Sinner under pressure. Anything can happen, and the players coming up behind must fight as if it were the match of their lives. And then we’ll see.

Can Djokovic defeat Sinner? The answer for sure is yes, but that comes with a lot of uncertainties. The Serbian has not been great physically and has revealed so. The last time he produced a convincing performance on the court was at the Australian Open against Sinner, and before that match, he didn’t play well against Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals.

Novak Djokovic not pleased with his preparation ahead of the Roland Garros

Novak Djokovic has not been in his best physical shape in recent months. There’s no report that it is linked to an injury, but he’s far from his best on the court. It was first noticeable at the Indian Wells Open, where he reached the fourth round before losing to Jack Draper, but it became clear at the Italian Open in Rome.

That means he will be heading into the French Open with just one match on clay. Last year, before Roland Garros, he won the Geneva Open, which gave him a boost at the clay-court Grand Slam. In his media interview in Rome, he revealed that he’s lacking the needed preparation ahead of the tournament:

It is frustrating. At the same time it’s my decision to still perform in that kind of state and conditions. I see what I’m missing. Late half a step. I’m not definitely where I want to be for the highest level and to compete at the highest level, and to be able to get far. It’s not an ideal preparation, to be honest.

Djokovic will take on the final big step in his preparation for the French Open by practicing with top players. But that may not be enough, as he needs more matches to reach his best rhythm. He will face a qualifier in the opening round as the fourth seed, then a lower-ranked player.

Also Read: Rafael Nadal Offers Reassuring Perspective on Carlos Alcaraz Wrist Injury: “I’ve Had That Twice”