“I would be surprised if…,” John McEnroe warns opponents not to write off Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros despite his struggle with form continues

He has warned the opponents to be wary of the Serb because, in spite of losing five tournaments on the trot without a trophy, he is still the No.1 player. 

“I would be surprised if…,” John McEnroe warns opponents not to write off Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros despite his struggle with form continues

Novak Djokovic, John McEnroe (Images via Imago)

Novak Djokovic arrived in Paris without a single title this season and this has concerned his supporters. Does the 37-year-old, who wrote history last year with three major titles, still have it in him? John McEnroe won’t be surprised if the Serb pulls off a stunning victory in the final to win his 25th Grand Slam title. 

His long-standing rival, Rafael Nadal, registered his only fourth defeat in the French Open when Alexander Zverev knocked him out of the first round in his last possible event in Paris. If the 14-time French Open champion emerged as a champion for the 15th time, it would have surprised McEnroe given that how the Spaniard is struggling to get back to his old self. 

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However, the American is not concerned about Djokovic’s game and thinks that the reason why the Serb has struggled this year was due to the changes he made to his team. He has warned the opponents to be wary of the Serb because, in spite of losing five tournaments on the trot without a trophy, he is still the No.1 player. 

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Novak talks a lot about good mental preparation and that Zen, but he didn't have it this year. I'm not sure why, nobody knows. There are a lot of changes. New coach, he got rid of the manager and the physiotherapist. It seems that it has an impact on the field. I would be surprised if Nadal went all the way and won Roland Garros, but not if Novak did it. He is still No. 1 in the world, you can't write him off.
John McEnroe told Eurosport

Djokovic will be losing his No.1 position in the rankings to Italy’s Jannik Sinner if he fails to reach the final to defend 2000 points. 

Novak Djokovic will next face Roberto Carballes Baena

After a 6-4, 7-6(7-3), 6-4 win over Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Novak Djokovic will face Spain’s Roberto Carballes Baena. It will be the third time they lock horns with each other. 

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic (Image via Imago)

Their previous meetings were in the 2019 US Open and the 2023 Australian Open, with Djokovic winning both in straight sets. Before setting himself the clash against the Serb, Carballes Baena overcame France’s Constant Lestienne in four sets. 

Djokovic last won a title in the 2023 ATP Tour Finals by beating Jannik Sinner and kicked off his campaign in 2024 at the Australian Open, where he lost to Sinner in the semifinals. Then he went on to lose four more tournaments without advancing to the final, including in the ATP 250 Geneva Open. 

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