It’s foolish to write Novak Djokovic off ahead of Roland Garros due to champion mindset
Write Novak Djokovic off at your own peril! That is the warning from tennis analyst and commentator Mark Petchey ahead of Roland Garros.
Following a brilliant start to the 2023 season that saw him win a 10th Australian Open title which helped him to draw level with Rafael Nadal on 22 Grand Slams, Djokovic has struggled in recent weeks.
The world No 1 missed the Sunshine Double in Indian Wells and Miami due to his unvaccinated status before making his comeback at the Monte Carlo Masters where he was stunned by Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-final.
He struggled with an elbow injury in the Principality and was once again in discomfort at the Srpska Open last week where he was once again upset in the last eight, this time by fellow Serbian Dusan Lajovic.
“I didn’t feel well on the court, my legs were slow and my footwork was torpid, many missed shots, totally without direction,” the tennis great said on the back of his defeat and not long after his exit in Banja Luka, he withdrew from the upcoming Madrid Open.
The Italian Open, which gets underway on May 8, is the final warm-up event before the French Open and there are concerns that the world No 1 could be undercooked for Paris, given that he has only played four matches on clay so far.
However, former tennis player and current Amazon Prime commentator and analyst Petchey has a warning for those who think Djokovic won’t be in top shape come the French Open.
“Anyone thinking that @DjokerNole won’t be in top gear by @rolandgarros simply hasn’t been paying attention for the last 18 years,” he wrote on Twitter.
It was then put to him that age might well have caught up with the Serbian as he turns 36 in May.
Twitter user Matt Gunner replied: “Well, the previous 18 yrs he wasn’t approaching 36yrs of age. However, very much hoping you’re right. All eyes will be on Rome of course, when he and hopefully Rafa give us all the assurances we need.”
Petchey, who coached Andy Murray at the start of his career, explained that the best players in the business have a different mindset and they will always find a way.
Circling around the periphery of @andy_murray career has given me a insight into the mindset of a Champion to a small degree. It’s pretty awe inspiring and astonishing what they can overcome and achieve in moments of real peril. His runway maybe shorter this time but he land it
— Mark Petchey (@_markpetchey) April 24, 2023
“Circling around the periphery of @andy_murray career has given me a insight into the mindset of a Champion to a small degree,” he started off. “It’s pretty awe inspiring and astonishing what they can overcome and achieve in moments of real peril. His runway maybe shorter this time but he land it.”
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