(Geneva) Novak Djokovic, outgoing winner of Roland-Garros, entered the ATP 250 tournament in Geneva this week to try to find his “best level”, after a start to the season far from his usual standards, he said. he said Tuesday.
“I am looking for my best possible level,” declared the world number one, recipient of an invitation to this tournament in Switzerland, which serves as a final preparation for the Paris Grand Slam (May 26–June 9) .
“Right now, there is no better training for me than playing matches. I feel like I need more matches,” he assured, on the eve of his entry into contention, “it’s my way of trying to find the form I need for Roland- Garros.”
“I’m not coming out of obligation,” the Serbian then explained: “It’s really my desire, my feelings, my passion, my love for tennis. I try to stay connected with that feeling.”
The winner of 24 Grand Slam titles, who celebrated his 37th birthday on Wednesday, remains eliminated in the third round on the clay court of Rome. He has not yet won any tournament or even played in a final in 2024.
Asked about the forces present at Roland-Garros, he still counted himself among the five favorites he cited. After placing Rafael Nadal “out of respect” as “the biggest favorite”, Djokovic gave a more detailed prediction: “Casper Ruud is surely one of the five players candidates for victory. We also have Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, all the players who won a major tournament on this surface this year. And then maybe me, if I feel good […] At Roland Garros, and at all Grand Slams, I am a slightly different player,” he warned.