Novak Djokovic is set to enter the French Open with an air of uncertainty around him.
Following a run to the Miami Open final, the Serbian transitioned to the clay, where he has struggled.
He failed to win a match at the Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open, and Djokovic chose to withdraw from the Italian Open.
The 37-year-old is not scheduled to compete before Roland Garros, and therefore it remains to be seen how match-fit he will be when the Grand Slam commences.
Roger Federer’s former coach says what Novak Djokovic should do before the French Open
Novak Djokovic knows exactly what it takes to succeed at the French Open having won the tournament three times and winning the Olympic gold medal at the same venue in 2024.
But as it stands the former World number one will enter the clay court Grand Slam having played just two matches on the surface this year.
As he gets older, playing himself into peak match condition before a Grand Slam is imperative for Djokovic, and this is why Roger Federer‘s former coach Paul Annacone thinks Djokovic needs to play before entering the French Open.
“I was a little surprised that he did not play in Rome because no matter what you do in practice, you do need some match reps and he just hasn’t got to feel his way into a tournament,” Annacone said.
“I think he probably feels at Roland Garros he will be able to play himself into a good rhythm. He has had success there in the past and knows how to win. But it is a long time not to play a match.
“I would be asking him to play if I was coaching him. Even if he just gets a couple of matches in. It’s not like he needs to get familiar with Roland Garros. He has been there a thousand times
“He doesn’t need the week before at Roland Garros to be comfortable at Roland Garros. Even if he doesn’t win the tournament next week, it doesn’t matter.
“You just can’t count great players out. You do it at your own peril. For Novak he knows himself so well, I am sure he has thought long and hard about it. I don’t think it’s a disaster if he doesn’t play next week, I just think it would be more logical to get another few matches in.”
Where can Novak Djokovic play before the French Open?
Djokovic withdrew from the Italian Open and there are just two other tournaments available that Djokovic could enter to play more matches before arriving in Paris.
The Hamburg Open is worth 500 ranking points and will take place from May 18-24, a day before the French Open will start.
This is the same tournament that World number one Jannik Sinner will play in. This will be the Italian’s second tournament after returning from his doping suspension. The Geneva Open will run at the time as the Hamburg Open, and the prize is 250 ranking points for the winner.
Djokovic entered this tournament in 2024, and reached the semi-finals where he lost to Tomas Machac in three sets.
Should Djokovic appear in either one of these events, it will serve as a prime opportunity to play some more matches before competing at the French Open.
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