in Monte-Carlo, Novak Djokovic launches his quest for a 23rd Grand Slam at Roland-Garros as a favorite

First major test for Novak Djokovic since the Australian Open. While others were whipping on the resin of American tournaments, the Serb was able to quietly tame the ocher of Monte-Carlo, whose Masters 1000 begins on Sunday April 9. Forced to rest due to his vaccination status, which prevented him from participating in the American tour, Novak Djokovic has only played one tournament since his coronation in Melbourne on January 29. It was in Dubai in early March, with a semi-final loss to Daniil Medvedev.

If Djokovic advances as the logical favorite by playing so little, it is also because of the competition: Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz are out of injury. He thus escapes the presence of his two predecessors on the world throne. Without the man who won 14 titles on Parisian soil (and 11 coronations in Monte-Carlo, and eight in Rome), and without his compatriot, who reached three finals in the last four tournaments in which he participated, the Serb sees its rating increase.

Since the end of the Dubai tournament, he has been treading the clay on the Rock, chomping at the bit. “He takes things on the bright side because he has no choice. He does not miss a Grand Slam this year, and he even finds the place of n°1 without playing”recalls our consultant Arnaud Clément. “I’ve learned in my life that regrets only hold you back and make you live in the past, which I don’t want to do,” explained the Serb, on March 21.

Forced rest and maximum freshness

Djokovic therefore arrives in Monte-Carlo with freshness, but without convincing results since his 22nd coronation. Disabilities ? “Each time we saw him resume, he performed well. It remains more and more difficult over the years, but it always goes very well. It gives him time to rest”, analyzes Arnaud Clément.

What to consider him as the logical favorite for Monte-Carlo, where he has only been crowned twice and where he has not reached the final since his title against Tomas Berdych in 2015? “Yes it is probably the favoriteslice the former captain of the France Davis Cup team. It’s still a special situation: when he was going very well, when he won Indian Wells and Miami, he arrived with a little rest and some training on earth. Here it is different. He’s the favourite, but you also have to find your bearings on gravel.”

Sinner, Tsitsipas and Rune on the starting line

Three names could nevertheless stand in his way: Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Holger Rune. “We want to see Sinner, who has progressed. Tsitsipas is a double defending champion, his game is a little more natural on this surface. Holger Rune, who has very variable levels, will have a little more time to put his game down , which he has not been able to do for some time”, lists Arnaud Clément. But the Greek has only beaten the Serb twice in 13 duels, the Italian has never beaten him in two games, and the Dane has dominated him once in two encounters.

With 38 Masters 1000 and 22 Grand Slam tournaments, the pedigree of “Nole” weighs heavily on opponents. Its floor level also: “There are players, on a big day, capable of worrying him, but it will depend a lot on his level. Djokovic is not always at the top either, but when he is not, he is still stronger. If we see it very strong right away, we will have no doubts about Roland-Garros”, complements our consultant.

However, the world number one is not invincible. A year ago, in a comparable situation (he had only played Dubai before), the Serb had suffered the wrath of Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, taking the door in the second round in Monaco. “Physically, he had not lasted the distance”, remembers Arnaud Clément. After 15 wins in a row to start the year, the Djoker was also sharply beaten by Medvedev in Dubai (6-4, 6-4). Enough to instill a first doubt? “It’s not as if he arrived on hard ground where we know he has no problem. It’s still clay. Be careful on the first laps. We could see, at times, that it could still be missing automation”, warns Arnaud Clément.

The 23rd Grand Slam in Paris, the ultimate goal

It will therefore be necessary to pass over the body of a rested Djokovic, but whose season is not played out on the Rock. Eager to register his name alone at the pinnacle of world tennis, Nole has the opportunity to do so at Roland-Garros, at the beginning of June, where he could become the only record holder for the number of Grand Slams (23). “I’m sure he’s already turned to Roland. The Masters 1000, he won them all twice”, assures our consultant. Above all, doing it in the lair of a certain Rafael Nadal, who martyred him so much at Porte d’Auteuil (8 wins to 2, but 2-2 over their last four confrontations), would have a particular flavor for those who feels invested with a mission, alone against all.

Especially if it is against the master of the place, whose physical condition remains unknown a month and a half before the start of the tournament. “Nadal is further down the standings [14e], so the meeting could be played much earlier in Paris. We have said so many times that the Spaniard will not return… But if there is one place where he can do it, it’s Roland.” concludes Arnaud Clément. This is undoubtedly what Novak Djokovic fears the most. But before that, he has three Masters 1000 (Monte-Carlo, Madrid and Rome) and a whole season on earth to think about it.