Novak Djokovic will be ‘just fine’ at French Open as former British No 1 make stark conclusion

Novak Djokovic is no longer the outstanding favourite for every Grand Slam he enters, but you write him off at tour peril.

That’s the view of former British No 1 Laura Robson, who has told Tennis365 that critics writing off the 24-time Grand Slam champion as yesterday’s man do not appreciate what he is still capable of achieving in the final chapters of his career.

Djokovic toasts his 37th birthday on Wednesday as the reigning world No 1, but he has endured his most challenging start to a year since he became a Grand Slam champion.

He was dethroned as Australian Open champion after a semi-final defeat against Jannik Sinner and they suffered shock defeats against Italian Luca Nardi at Indian Wells and against Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo at the Rome Masters.

Djokovic’s decision to enter this week’s Geneva Open is evidence of his desire to find some rhythm and confidence ahead of the French Open, but Robson is convinced he will find his touch ahead of a big summer that will conclude with his push to win an Olympic gold medal.

“It’s so unusual for him not to be in peak form leading up to a Slam, but then there are other times when it’s happened and he has been totally fine by the time he gets to the third round and plays through a few matches,” Robson told Tennis365 as she prepares to join the Eurosport and discovery+ team at Roland Garros.

“He has so much confidence in these situations and you can only have that belief by winning as much as he has in his life.

“To beat him in a Slam is very, very tough to do. So I would put him in as one of the top three favourites for the tournament. Novak Djokovic is going to be just fine when he gets to a Slam.

“Everyone has dips, but he doesn’t have many. So when he does, it’s blown out of proportion.

“All players have times when they have periods where they are working on things in practice that they can’t put on to the match court, but if anyone can figure it out, it’s going to be Novak Djokovic. He knows what he needs to do in a best-of-five set match better than anybody.”

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Robson joined the chorus of tennis observers who were by Djokovic’s decision to enter the Geneva Open this week, with the concern he had over his form highlighted by that unexpected decision in a year that has seen the Serbian cut down his schedule by pulling out of tournaments like the Miami Open and the Madrid Open in his trimmed down schedule.

“I was really surprised to see him play a 250 this week,” continued Robson, as she reflected on his appearance in the lower-level ATP Tour event that has just 250 ranking points available to the winner.

“You want to be as fresh as possible heading into a Grand Slam because it is a long two weeks, so who knows how he will feel if he goes deep into the tournament in Geneva.

“You have to spend an extra hour out on the court, you have to deal with the nerves over potentially a long five-set match and that’s not always easy, but he has been around for long enough to understand what he needs ahead of a Slam.”

Robson went on to suggest there are more candidates to challenge for the title in Paris than we have seen for a couple of decades at a tournament that has been dominated by 14-time Roland Garros king Rafael Nadal, as she backed Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas to challenge for their first French Open titles.

“Six or seven men could win the French Open and we have not said that for a very, very long time,” added Robson.

“I think it’s more exciting, but we also have issues with injuries around Alcaraz and Sinner. Then you look at Djokovic and he is not where he would want to be the week before a Slam, so that gives others a chance.

“Zverev, Medvedev and Tsistipas will all think they have a chance. I’d also throw in a dark horse in someone like Holger Rune and it’s nice that this tournament is so open.

“For the men to have a bit variety is nice as we have had the ‘Big 4’ for so long winning tournaments and it is great to see some new names in the mix, but I still think the top players who have done it before will always be tough to beat in a best-of-five situation.”

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