By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, May 20, 2022
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic talks contenders, challenges and confidence level ahead of launching his Roland Garros title defense.
Photo credit: Getty
Novak Djokovic struck a blow for the maturing masses with this Eternal City title triumph.
In a rematch of the 2021 Roland Garros final, the 34-year-old Djokovic swept Stefanos Tsitsipas to capture the Rome championship and make history as the oldest Rome champion in the Open Era.
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Iconic champions Djokovic and Rafael Nadal could reignite the most prolific rivalry in ATP history with an iconic record on the line in Paris.
Reigning Roland Garros champion Djokovic is chasing his 21st Grand Slam title in Paris, aiming to equal rival Nadal’s Grand Slam record.
The pair are on course for a quarterfinal clash at Roland Garros with the winner potentially playing 19-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who defeated Nadal and Djokovic back-to-back en route to the Madrid title.
The trio stand as the top three favorites for this Roland Garros in the minds of many, including Djokovic himself.
“We talk about favorites for Roland Garros and clay, you know, that, Nadal always has to be right at the top, because of his records particularly in this tournament,” Djokovic told the media in Paris today. “And then you have Alcaraz that obviously is the story of men's tennis in the last four or five months with a big reason. He's had some tremendous leaps forward on rankings and the results that he's been achieving are phenomenal for someone of his age. He has made a quantum jump really forward in the last five, six months.”
Match reps Djokovic earned in Rome where he rolled to the title without surrendering a set infuse the top seed with the confidence required for a Roland Garros repeat.
“I feel I am always in that contention to fight for any Grand Slam trophy,” Djokovic said. “I believe in my own abilities to get far and to fight for, you know, one of the most prestigious trophies in the world of tennis.
“As a defending champion of course more so, to believe I can do it again. Reliving the memories from last year is something that obviously gives me goose bumps and motivation to try to replicate that, if I can say that.”
So how often Djokovic’s past Rome results have served as precursor to Paris success?
Historically, the six-time Rome champion has imposed inspired Italian Open play in Paris.
All six of Djokovic’s Roland Garros finals appearances—2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020 and 2021—came weeks after he contested Rome finals.
Last spring, Djokovic lost to Rafael Nadal 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 in the Rome final. In their heart-racing Roland Garros semifinal rematch, a defiant Djokovic dethroned 13-time Roland Garros champion Nadal 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-2 then came back from two sets down to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
An energized Djokovic is brimming with confidence that comes from fine form ahead of his Roland Garros opener vs. left-hander Yoshihito Nishioka.
“It took me two tournaments to really, you know, feel that I'm getting closer to desired level. I reached that level in Rome,” Djokovic said. “I hadn't dropped a set there and won the tournament.
“Rome has been a very successful tournament for me in my career, and it was really coming at the right time. I always managed to get to the later stages of that tournament in just the week before Paris, perfect time to really find form.”
The question is: Can Djokovic sustain that form and sharpen it ahead of the potential combustible quarterfinal looming against Nadal?
And how much would a winner have left in the tank for a possible semifinal showdown with teenage sensation Alcaraz?
For now, Djokovic is focused on the first-round while hoping confidence and vast experience that comes from 1,001 career wins and 87 championships can fuel completion of historic quest.
“I think that experience of being on the tour for such a long time helps to know how to spend energy on the court match after match, bring out the right intensity, manage everything that happens off the court, as well, and peak at the right time,” Djokovic said. “You know, best-of-five, obviously things are different.
"Grand Slam I think awakens so much motivation and emotions in a tennis player. It's the dream of many tennis players to win a Grand Slam.”