Roland Garros | Djokovic: “Nadal’s withdrawal made me think about when it will be my turn”

The Serbian tennis player, champion in 2016 and 2021, wanted to avoid extra pressure before beginning the race to the title in Paris and the 23rd Grand Slam of his record. A goal for which he continues to play tennis. “It’s no secret that I play to break records, but it’s also true that I don’t have the body of 10 years ago,” he explained. Djokovicwho turned 36 on May 22.

For the first time since he debuted in 2005, when he fell in the first round the year he Nadal He won his first Roland Garros, Djokovic He will not come across the Roland Garros facilities with Nadal or Federer, with whom he has had great battles and shared most of the Grand Slams. The Swiss retired last year and Nadal has given up defending his title due to his hip injury.

“When Nadal announced that he would retire next year it was a shock because a part of me is going with him. It made me think when it will be my turn. I was moved to hear his words. He has been the tennis player who has motivated me the most to be better in the race to win more”, highlighted Djokovic.

loneliness of a veteran

The former number 1, however, assured that “I am not going to miss Nadal” at Roland Garros. “I have not had much success with him on these tracks. It is difficult to beat Nadal everywhere, but more in Paris” .

Djokovic He won’t have Nadal as a rival but he won’t have it easy without the Spaniard either. The Serbian will be the only champion along with Stan Wawrinka (2015) who is playing in the tournament and will be very lonely to defend the Big Three pavilion, very lonely before a new generation hungry for glory. “Alcaraz and Rune are young but they are already very mature”, he stressed, highlighting them as favorites, without forgetting “Tstsipas, Sinner y Ruud“, but without including in their forecasts Medvedev that, with the title of Rome, took away the second world place.

extra motivation

For the first time since 2012 Djokovic arrives in Paris without having won any title on clay and only with five wins in eight games. “I have not been very successful this season on clay but in a Grand Slam I always feel extra motivation. It’s great to be here. At this point in my career, it’s a gift to me. I will try to take advantage of this opportunity.”

Djokovic has fallen in the upper part of the painting next to alcaraz, with whom he would meet in a hypothetical semifinal, but he avoided talking about that confrontation. “It would be disrespectful to the players who can touch me before,” he clarified. For now, on Monday, he will debut against the American Alexander Kovacevic (114 world).

Cobolli, rival of Alcaraz

Alcaraz It will debut against the Italian Flavio Cobolli, 21 years old like the Murcian tennis player, but 158 ​​places below in the world ranking who has won the prize of facing the number 1 after overcoming the previous phase. Cobolli has been a professional since 2020 and last year he won his first title in the Zagreb challenger.

The Murcian tennis player trained this Saturday at Suzanne Lenglen, the second center, with Tsitsipas who will debut this Sunday. Alcaraz’s presence filled the track with a capacity of 10,000 seats. For more than 10 minutes the world number 1 was signing autographs that coincided, at the end of Djokovic’s training session, in a day that Roland Garros dedicates to children.

Tribute to Yannick Noah

A special day in which this year honored Yannick Noah, the last French champion in Paris who won the title in 1983. The veteran French tennis player collected funds for his ‘Fete Le Mur’ foundation and held a concert with his group at the Philippe Chatrier center.