Who is the favorite at Roland Garros? Djokovic’s response was not wasted

With no titles and only six games on clay in 2024, Novak Djokovic has changed this year its approach to Roland Garros (May 26-June 9) by signing up this week for Geneva ATP (Switzerland).

Beaten by Casper Ruud in the semifinals of Monte Carlo Masters 1,000The world number 1 left with bad feelings about Rome after receiving the famous involuntary bottle hit by a fan and losing in the 3rd round against the Chilean Alejandro Tabiloso he wants to regain momentum in Geneva before going to Paris.

Asked who he considers the favorite at Roland Garros, the Serbian, defending champion and three-time champion (2016, 2021, 2023)gave an answer that was not wasted, especially considering the special circumstances surrounding the chosen tennis player.

“When you talk Roland Garros and Rafael Nadal There, for me it’s always been a favorite. Obviously, this guy is a little different in his level of play, but this is Roland Garros and this is Nadal and, with the respect we owe him, it’s normal to put him as a favorite,” said Djokovic in his press conference in Geneva.

With 14 titles and 112 wins in 115 games played, the weight of the Nadal-Roland Garros story So much so that, although Manacorí is now more focused on regaining his competitive level, rivals in Paris will always consider him both for the works seen in recent years and to take some pressure off their own backs .

The Serbian admitted that the Roland Garros tournament “this year is more open”, a general opinion in the world of tennis due to the physical problems faced by some world figures, such as the aforementioned Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz either Jannik Sinner.

“Casper Ruud He is certainly one of five players who are candidates for victory. We have too Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, all players who have won a major tournament on this surface this year. And, then, maybe I will, if I feel good. At Roland Garros and at all the Grand Slams, I’m a bit of a different player,” added Djokovic, who will try to raise his ‘great’ record to 25 in Paris.

‘Nole’ will be 37 this Wednesday and will debut in Geneva in the afternoon (not before 6:00 pm) in the round of 16 duel against Yannick Hanfmann (85º), which failed to re-release another great classic of the 21st century by losing Andy Murray by 7-5 and 6-2.

The Briton, who turned 37 last week, and Djokovic once emerged as the most serious rivals of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal in their prime. Murray, also hampered by injuries, eventually fell in that race and deservedly so ‘Big Four’ finally stayed inside ‘Big Three’.

If he defeats Hanfmann, Andy will face Novak for the 37th time in his career: the Serbian dominates the Scotsman 25-11. If he beats the German, Denis Shapovalov either Tallon Griekspoor (rooms), Taylor Fritz (semifinals) and Casper Ruud (finally) they could be Djokovic’s rivals.