Before Roland Garros 2026, Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic expressed optimism about the opportunity to conquer his 25th Grand Slam title in his career, despite the preparation process being affected by injury.
Speaking at a press conference in Paris, Djokovic said that fitness will be a decisive factor for his ambition at this year's tournament.
I feel that if I can maintain my health and physical freshness throughout the tournament, I have a great chance. I always keep faith every time I step onto the court," the 39-year-old tennis player shared.
Djokovic entered Roland Garros with not many clay court matches this season. The former world No. 1 has just returned to play at the Rome Masters after more than six weeks of injury recovery since Indian Wells in March. However, he stopped early in the opening match against young player Dino Prizmic.
Although the results were not as expected, Djokovic said that the time playing in Rome helped him assess his body's reaction and regain his feeling of playing before coming to Paris.
I want to play more but my body doesn't allow it. The important thing is that the recovery process is positive and I can participate in Roland Garros," Djokovic said.
The Serbian tennis player admitted that he has not reached his best form, but has spent a lot of time improving his physical foundation as well as preparing for the five-set matches at the Grand Slam.
Besides, Djokovic also highly appreciates world No. 1 Jannik Sinner after the Rome Masters championship. He said Sinner has proven his ability on all courts and is fully capable of competing for the championship at Roland Garros.
Regarding Carlos Alcaraz not participating in the tournament due to injury, Djokovic said that this does not significantly affect his approach.
In the past six to eight months, my biggest challenge has been the body, not the opponent," Djokovic emphasized.
In addition, the former world No. 1 also denied participating in the campaign to protest the Roland Garros organizers regarding the issue of prize money distribution for players. Djokovic affirmed that he was not present in the discussions and did not participate in the lobbying group that limited the press conference time before the tournament.
In round 1 of Roland Garros 2026, Djokovic will face home tennis player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in his quest for another Grand Slam title in his illustrious career.
