Despite being the best ranked player in the world with a win-loss of 28-2 this season, Novak Djokovic has stated that he isn’t the favorite for the French Open title.
The 11-time Grand Slam champion is yet to win a title at the French Open, settling for runner-up in three out of the last four years. He suffered a disappointing start to the clay court season this year after being stunned in the second round of the Monte-Carlo Masters by Jiri Vesely. It was the lowest ranked player that the Serbian has lost to since Xavier Malisse at the 2010 Aegon Championships.
Djokovic will be hoping to win his fourth consecutive Grand Slam title at Roland Garros next month. Speaking about the upcoming tournament, the 28-year-old has candidly admitted that Rafael Nadal will be the favorite for the title due to his dominance on clay. Nadal has won 48 titles on clay, including a record-breaking nine French Open trophies.
“It is not a surprise that Rafa titled in Monte Carlo, He has already won many titles there. It is true that he had problems with winning big titles in the last two years, but he is still is the best in history on clay. I have a lot of respect for him and I see him as a favorite in every tournament on clay, including the French Open,” Djokovic was quoted by B92.net as saying.
Despite his Monte-Carlo blip last week, it’s understandable why more people are betting on Djokovic instead of the King of clay (Nadal). Since 2015 the world No.1 has won 15 titles compared to the Spaniards four. Furthermore Djokovic has beaten Nadal in their eight most recent meeting on the tour, including this year’s Doha Open final.
The next test on clay for Djokovic will be the Madrid Masters in the first week of May, where he will be bidding to win his third Masters title of the season.
The Olympic Goal
The quest to win a maiden French Open title isn’t the only thing dominating Djokovic’s 2016 season. The Serbian will travel to Rio de Janeiro in August to play in the Olympic Games for the third time in his career. Djokovic is currently one of only seven Serbian athletes that has won an Olympic media (since the separation of Serbia and Montenegro). He won a bronze medal at the 2008 games in Beijing.
“This is for me as a Grand Slam tournament and I understand it seriously. I often had the opportunity to play for my country and it will be a unique experience, as well as in Beijing and London. I hope to be fit I’d be able to win a medal for my country, so I will play singles and doubles, ” the world No.1 said about playing in the Olympics.
At the Rio Olympics Djokovic is expected to play in the doubles tournament alongside compatriot Nenad Zimonjic, a doubles specialist who is currently ranked 16th in the world.
