With Roland Garros over, in what was yet another sparkling iteration of the tournament, tennis waits for nobody. Already we are back in action elsewhere.
After all, preparation for the grass court season has to be immediate, given Wimbledon is now just weeks away.
It is set to be yet another completely wide-open Grand Slam, with Carlos Alcaraz the clear favourite seeking to defend his title.
However, apart from him, there are a number of key stars who might fancy their chances.
Especially given Novak Djokovic’s expected absence.
Jimmy Connors delivers Novak Djokovic injury verdict
Speaking on his podcast, Advantage Connors, the former world number one was rather frank in his assessment of Djokovic’s injury.
Thought to be a torn meniscus in his knee, it’s remarkable to think that continued to battle so ferociously against Francisco Cerundulo in a match where he had clearly already sustained the injury.
And with surgery having reportedly been a success, we now await to see how his recovery pans out.
But Jimmy Connors already thinks that he will be fit enough for one key event in the tennis calendar, noting: ‘For the Olympics, I don’t see why he shouldn’t be in shape. He should be okay by then and have an opportunity to practice and work and get back in shape.
‘Things happen, everyone thinks it’s easy to play when you get older but it’s not. The strain and the stress that you put on your body and your joints trying to reach a certain level that not only the crowd expects from you but you expect as well. Things happen. And to play at the top of the game until your late 30’s and still be at the top of your game is impressive.’
Novak Djokovic has to focus on the Olympics
Given reports suggesting Novak Djokovic will miss Wimbledon have already emerged, it is clear that the new world number three has already decided to forfeit a mad last-gasp attempt to return to fitness ahead of schedule and instead focus on a more coveted prize.
For him, at least.
After all, Djokovic has amassed plenty of titles from SW19 – seven to be exact – and hardly needs to add to his already sprawling legacy in this particular competition.
In fact, there are few tournaments in the entire sport that he has not claimed at some point during his sparkling tennis career, and the fact that Olympic Gold is one of them makes the upcoming Paris Olympics all the more important.
Just last month, the Serbian superstar turned 37.
By the time the next Olympic Games rolls around in 2028, Djokovic will have just turned 41.
Now he has defied all logic and stunned the tennis world many times over, but to claim that prize at that age, where competition seems to only be improving, would be a near-impossible task.
This is likely his final chance at that coveted silverware, and therefore he has to put all his focus into claiming Olympic gold for his country, and to complete his trophy cabinet.
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