Novak Djokovic admits his French Open preparation hasn't been perfect, says he's disappointed by Rafael Nadal's absence

Updated 28/05/2023 at 07:06 GMT

Novak Djokovic has had a mixed year, but he's aiming to make it two Grand Slams from two by reaching peak form in Paris at the French Open. Djokovic made a triumphant return at the Australian Open in January, 12 months after being banned from the country over his vaccination status, but has seen injury and form undermine his season since. Disappointment in Monte-Carlo and the Srpska Open followed.

Djokovic admits Nadal absence 'a big loss', but 'ready to give it my all' ahead of Roland-Garros

Novak Djokovic would be the first to admit that his preparation for the French Open has been far from ideal, but he's planning to turn that run of form around when he arrives in Paris this week.

After making a triumphant return to the Australian Open, winning the title one year after being banned from the country over his vaccination status, Djokovic's season has stalled, rather than kick on.

His follow-up to victory in Melbourne, Djokovic was beaten in straight sets in the semi finals of the Dubai Tennis championships by Daniil Medvedev. While that is no embarrassment, the Serbian saw his visa application rejected by United States authorities in the same month, causing him to miss both Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Masters.

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Subsequently, Djokovic disappointed in his 'home' tournament in Monaco, losing in the third round to Italian Lorenzo Musetti. The Srpska Open in Bosnia and Herzegovina saw a similarly underwhelming outcome. Fellow Serbian Dusan Lajovic beat Djokovic in straight sets in the quarters.

A troublesome elbow injury saw him pull out of the Madrid Open, and Djokovic lost in the quarter-finals of the Italian Open to Dane Holger Rune. Rune went on to lose the final to Medvedev.

Questioned about his spotty approach to the French Open, Djokovic was optimistic: "I know how to, how to manage myself and my team and look, you know, I haven't had a fantastic preparation prior to Roland-Garros. But, you know, I'm always saying that Roland-Garros is where I want to peak. So I'm, I'm aiming for that and I'm hoping that I come to life and come to reality here."

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Champion twice previously in Paris, in 2016 and 2021, Djokovic knows what it takes to win.

He said: "I actually think that the, the grand slams are a whole different ball game as they like to say, or a whole different sport really because it, it's played in, you know, best of five. I think because of the importance of this event in the history of our sport, it just adds a bit more pressure, it adds also a bit more motivation. So I'm ready to give it all as, as I always have."

The Serbian admitted that he is targeting a third French Open title, saying: "I think, well, I hope that experience can help me and route to hopefully another title. But, you know, we have to take things step by step on one match at a time."

The world No. 3 faces American Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round at Roland-Garros. Kovacevic is making his first career appearance in a Grand Slam proper.

But Djokovic isn't thinking too hard about Kovacevic. Rather, he has his eye on one player who won't be there, Rafael Nadal.

Nadal's absence is, for Djokovic, a great disappointment.

When asked whether the legendary Spaniard is the player he would most want to face, Djokovic agreed.

He said: "I think, look, as I said, he, you know, it's a big loss for the tournament and for the tennis, as a whole because of the great champion that he is."

Djokovic is not immune to the notion that Nadal's absence improves his own odds in Paris, though.

He continued: "When I heard the news, obviously, it's a great chance for me and the other guys to maybe get hands on the title. But at the same time, you're right, you wanna beat the best players in the world, the most dominant player here and, and on your way to the title."

Missing the tournament for the first time since 2005, Nadal's lack of presence also left Djokovic in a thoughtful mood.

He explained: "At the same time it, it, you know, it made me wonder and, and question myself and, and where, where the end of my career is going to be and how, so because, you know, we all knew that that might be coming around the corner because of his injuries and everything and, and of course, the age and the amount of years he has played on the tour.

"But still, when he announced that his, the next season will be his last season. It still came as a bit of a shock, you know, to, to me and, so I, I kind of, you know, have this internal conversations with myself as well."

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