Djokovic: "For me, Nadal is still the favourite for the French Open".

Le 21/05/2024 à 17h30 par Guillaume Nonque

Novak Djokovic was in Geneva this week for his final warm-up tournament before Roland Garros, and spoke about his favourites for the title in Paris this year. The world No.1 sees things as much more open than in previous editions, and naturally cites all the players in form since the start of the clay-court season. But the Serb has not changed his mind: for him, the big favorite at Roland-Garros is necessarily Rafael Nadal.

Novak Djokovic: "This year is more open. Casper Ruud is certainly one of the five candidates for victory. There's Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas. All the players who have won a major tournament on this surface this year.

But when it comes to the French Open and Nadal is there, he's always the biggest favorite for me. After everything he's done on the courts at Roland-Garros, it's normal, with all due respect, to consider him the biggest favorite. Obviously, it's a bit different with his level of play. But this is Roland Garros and this is Nadal.

After that, maybe me, if I feel good, if I play well. At Roland Garros and in all the Grand Slam tournaments, I'm a slightly different player."

What an insincere poser he is. We all know that rafa has been playing very badly and can be beaten by two dozen people... He is just trying to look good and to take the pressure off himself.

Couldn't have put it better Fred.

Novak, it seems as though he's trying reverse psychology as his latest trick, but it just shows how insincere he really is.

lol you guys crack me up. Very respectful comments by the champ but the haters always have to criticize. So funny but predictable.

Disingenuous

Nole is right. Remember 2022. Rafa almost skipped RG because he was "injured", and still he won. 2020 is a similar scenario.
So, Nole isn't trying anything, he is right with this

He should have been a politician, what a lie

Disingenuous was my first thought as well. And that's based on the simple fact everyone knows Nadal is well beyond his prime and making matters worse plagued with injuries. The idea Nadal is the RG favorite is illogical. Of course Djokovic knows this as well. Maybe he's trying to pay tribute to the greatest clay court player in the history of tennis. Maybe he's trying to hype the tournament. Maybe he's trying to take the focus off himself. Who knows? Regardless, saying something so grandiose just comes across as disingenuous.

Vamos Rafa GOAT

Oof .. this was before the draw. Rafa has sadly been drawn against Sacha Zverev ... 😱