“I’m looking for my best possible level.” This is how Novak Djokovic justified his participation in the ATP 250 tournament in Geneva this week. Beneficiary of an invitation to this tournament in Switzerland, the world number 1 sees it as a final preparation before Roland-Garros, of which he remains the title holder.
“Right now there is no better training for me than playing matches. I feel like I need more matches,” assures the Serbian on the eve of his entry into the running, “it’s my way of trying to find the form I need for Roland-Garros.” “I don’t come out of obligation,” he then justified: “It’s really my desire, my feelings, my passion, my love for tennis. I try to stay connected with this feeling.
The winner of 24 Grand Slam titles, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Wednesday, remains eliminated in the third round on the clay court of Rome. He has not yet won any tournament or even played in a final in 2024.
Asked about the forces present at Roland-Garros, he still counted himself among the five favorites he cited. After having placed “out of respect” Rafael Nadal as “the biggest favorite”, Djokovic gave a more detailed prediction: “Casper Ruud is surely one of the five players candidates for victory. We also have Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, all the players who won a major tournament on this surface this year. And afterwards, maybe me, if I feel good (…) At Roland Garros, and at all the Grand Slams, I am a slightly different player,” he warned.