Novak Djokovic makes honest admission about expectations and his motivation at French Open

Ewan West 29 May 2024 11:03 AM

Serbia's Novak Djokovic talks to the media

Novak Djokovic expressed caution about raising his own expectations after his opening round win against Pierre-Hugues Herbert at the 2024 French Open.

The world No 1 also revealed he was enjoying playing at Roland Garros more than any tournament since the Australian Open as he discussed his motivation.

Djokovic started his French Open title defence by defeating wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-4 in the first round of the Paris Major on Monday. The 37-year-old is looking to win his fourth Roland Garros title.

Prior to the tournament, Djokovic declared: “I almost feel a bit embarrassed to say what my expectations are.

“Anything but a title for me is not satisfactory, so it always has been like that. I know it might sound arrogant to a lot of people, but I think I have the career that backs it up.”

The great Serbian has not produced his best tennis so far in 2024 and is still searching for his first title of the season.

After beating Herbert, Djokovic was asked if his performance had led him to alter his expectations one way or another.

“No, I still stay with it,” Djokovic said. “Monte Carlo, Rome, and Geneva tournaments started really well for me. First matches I played were great. Then second matches, third matches (smiling) was quite different.

“So I don’t want to get too excited. I thought it was a good performance from me, solid. Of course I could have done better I think on the return games, but also credit to him for serving very well.”

The 24-time Grand Slam champion also reiterated that Grand Slams are what motivate him as he addressed whether he is currently enjoying tennis.

“Honestly, [I’m enjoying] here much more than basically any other tournament this year that I played except Australia, you know,” he explained.

“Even Australia was kind of, a sense of a bit of an uphill battle in terms of how I was feeling on the court. Again, this is only one match here. So we have to see, see how I progress in the tournament, how the feeling evolves, but it was good.

“You know, I was fist pumping, I was focused, I was there, I was present. So I’m pleased with the way at least I behaved or had a mindset on the court. That was something that I was looking for. And where are you going to feel that way if not in Grand Slams?

“It’s something that I have been saying from the beginning of the year and from the last whatever years, that Grand Slams are the ones that are basically getting me up from the bed every day and knowing that I have to hit the practice courts.

“I always think about what I can do in Grand Slams. Here I am and hopefully I can have another deep run.”