World number one Novak Djokovic is ready to take on the ‘ultimate challenge’ as he prepares to start his clay court season this week.
Since winning the Australian Open in January, it hasn’t been all plain sailing for the world number one as he’s struggled to find his dominating form.
The distractions of the ATP political mess have certainly contributed to poor form for Djokovic as he faced early at Indian Wells and Miami to Philipp Kohlscrieber and Roberto Bautista Agut.
But with March gone, Djokovic can now focus on the clay-court season as he prepares to make history at Roland Garros. An unprecedented feat could await as he could hold all four grand slam titles at the same time for only the second time in his career.
However even the Serb realises that he faces the ‘ultimate challenge’ this month as he looks to dethrone Rafael Nadal, something that Djokovic believes will be difficult to achieve, “You know, if he’s physically fit, he’s definitely the No. 1 guy, you know, on this surface without a doubt,” Djokovic was quoted as saying to the Metro.
“Yes, I mean, for sure, beating Rafa in Roland Garros would be ‑ and he’s one of the ultimate challenges of the sport, as it is winning against Roger in Wimbledon, yeah. I think Rafa always is a very clear favourite on any clay court in the world, and it doesn’t change.”
Despite Nadal being the clear favourite, the top seed dismisses claims that winning in Monte-Carlo, Madrid or Rome would increase his chances of winning in Paris, “It would be definitely better to approach Roland Garros with a win of one of the big three clay court events prior to French Open, but at the same time, I have had great Roland Garros tournaments in the past where I maybe didn’t win any of the big ones before.”
As well as Nadal, Djokovic also outlined the other threats in the field including a certain Roger Federer who is playing on clay for the first time since 2016, “You know, I think [Alexander] Zverev has done very well on clay in the last few years,” Djokovic claimed.
“Dominic Thiem, of course. Roger is going to play, as well, this season. That’s great for tennis. I think it is pretty open. I mean, certainly other Slams more than Roland Garros for Roger are, so to say ‑ he has more chance to win other slams than Roland Garros, but he has won Roland Garros in the past.
“He hasn’t played it obviously last year or last few years, but, you know, it’s hard to speak about Roger’s level because it’s always there. It’s always at its highest.”
Novak Djokovic will start his Monte-Carlo campaign against Philipp Kohlschreiber or Lucky Loser Taro Daniel.
