Novak Djokovic still hasn’t found what he’s looking for despite French Open win
Novak Djokovic navigated his way through a potentially tricky opening round opponent as he beat French wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert at Roland Garros, yet there were still some question marks emerging from his performance.
The world No 1 confessed he had ‘low expectations and high hopes’ for the French Open after a flat start to 2024, with last week’s defeat against Tomas Machac at the Geneva Open adding to the suspicion that Djokovic was losing his aura at the top of the men’s game.
A first round draw against a French wildcard in Paris was always likely to test Djokovic, but he came through 6-4 7-6 (3) 6-4 in a contest that struggled to catch fire.
The only moment of slight drama came deep in the third set when Djokovic took a nasty tumble down by the net and was booed by the ever-friendly Paris crowd as he towelled himself down.
“C’est normal, l’ambiance,” he said while addressing the crowd afterwards, before translating the remark as: “It’s normal, the atmosphere. Merci pour l’ambiance (thank you for the atmosphere).”
He went on to suggest this opening win at the French Open was a step in the right direction after a succession of setbacks and false starts this year.
“I’m glad I started the way I started, the way I felt on the court,” said Djokovic, who plays Spain’s world No 63 Roberto Carballes Baena in the next round.
“Comparing to the previous weeks of tournaments I played (recently), I felt good, better. I’m moving in a positive direction.”
A victory was welcome for Djokovic as he has been pushed to the limits by lower ranks opponents on too many occasions in recent months and that has changed the mood around the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
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For most of the past 15 years, Djokovic vs Herbert in the opening round of a Grand Slam would have been viewed as a warm-up match to start his latest march to glory.
Yet Djokovic opening concedes that he doesn’t know what kind of performance he will serve up at the French Open and that uncertainty will fuel belief in his opponents.
There is also a mood change among spectators, with the French crowd filling the seats on Court Philippe Chatrier for the Tuesday night session at Roland Garros believing they may see end of another great champion following Rafael Nadal’s emotional exit the day before.
Djokovic is not at the Nadal phase of his career yet as this 37-year-old has not been afflicted by the injuries that have derailed the Spanaird’s ambitions in recent years.
Yet when the opposition senses a legendary scalp is there for the taking, they raise their game and make life even more challenging for the icon at the other end of the court.
After everything we have seen so far from Djokovic this year, no one would be surprised if he is embroiled in a tense five-set battle during his first few matches in Paris.
Yet it seems unlikely that Carballes Baena will be etched into the record books as the player who ended his reign as French Open champion.
Carballes Baena recorded a win against Holger Rune at last year’s US Open to confirm he can trouble top ten opponents and he reached a clay court final in Marrakech last month, losing against Matteo Berrettini.
While Djokovic should have more than enough in his armoury to see off Carballes Baena, the inevitability of his success is not part of this narrative tight now.
This win against Herbert was workmanlike rather than intimidating for the rest and until Djokovic proves he still has the fire inside him to fight for more titles, the jury will remain out on his French Open ambitions.
