Novak Djokovic Ready to Enter Roland Garros Without Preparation Due to Injury

Novak Djokovic wanted to play the Madrid Open, but an injury has forced him to withdraw from the tournament. He is planning to play the Italian Open, which he skipped last year.

Instead, Djokovic featured at the Geneva Open and ended his title drought by defeating Hubert Hurkacz in the final. Although he wants to play in Rome this year, his participation will depend on the progress of his injury. And if he doesn’t play, it will only mean one thing: he will enter the Roland Garros without match practice on clay.

I have an injury, I hope to be ready at least for Roland Garros. I’m working to get to Rome, but I can’t make a prediction now because it depends on the progress of the injury. At least for Roland Garros, I’m ready.

Novak Djokovic told Spanish media during the Laureus World Sports Awards

Last year at Roland Garros, Djokovic’s run ended with a straight-set defeat at the hands of eventual runner-up Jannik Sinner. The last time he tasted success in a clay-court Major was in 2023 against Casper Ruud. Djokovic lifted his career’s first French Open title in 2016 by defeating Andy Murray, then beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2021. So far in his career, Djokovic has clinched 21 out of his 101 titles on clay.

The last time Djokovic won a Grand Slam title was at the 2023 US Open against Daniil Medvedev. And since then, he has played two Major finals, including this year’s Australian Open. The 38-year-old has not yet won a Big Title since his victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Toni Nadal on Novak Djokovic’s 25th Grand Slam chances

In this year’s Australian Open, although Novak Djokovic downed Jannik Sinner in the semifinal, he failed to go past Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Rafael Nadal’s former uncle and coach, Toni Nadal, expressed his doubt about Djokovic’s ability to win his 25th Grand Slam title.

No, no, for now, let him continue. Although I think it’s unlikely he’ll win another Grand Slam. He beat Sinner in Australia, but not Alcaraz in the final.

Toni Nadal said during his interview with Mundo Deportivo

Last year, Djokovic reached the semifinals of every Grand Slam event, losing to Sinner at the French Open and Wimbledon to Alcaraz at the US Open. At the Australian Open, an injury forced him to hand the walkover to eventual runner-up Alexander Zverev.

I think Sinner didn’t have a very good day; he didn’t have a brilliant tournament. Djokovic, who is exceptional, knew how to take advantage of that. In the final, he played an incredible first set, but he can’t maintain that pace for two hours against Alcaraz.

Toni Nadal added

Nadal also made a brutal assessment of Brazilian sensation Joao Fonseca. He watched the 19-year-old play in Miami but did not get the “feeling of being in front of a great player“. Nadal said when he first saw Djokovic, he knew right away that the Serb would become World No.1 one day.

Fonseca has so far won two singles titles, the 2025 Argentina Open and the 2025 Swiss Indoors. In the Miami Open, his run ended at the hands of Alcaraz in the second round. He was last seen in action in the quarterfinal of the Munich Open and is now set to play the Madrid Open.

At the moment, Djokovic stands fourth on the rankings table and has a win-loss record of 7-2 this season. After his defeat to Alcaraz in the Australian Open final, Djokovic lost to defending champion Jack Draper in the Indian Wells fourth round of the Indian Wells Masters.

Also read: Marta Kostyuk Incredibly Proud After Winning All-Ukrainian Final: “It Was a Historical Moment”

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