Novak Djokovic doubters await as title defence begins at Roland Garros

World primary Novak Djokovic would be the predominant attraction at Roland Garros on Tuesday when he begins his French Open title defence towards Pierre-Hugues Herbert, however after final 12 months’s domination, this 12 months brings much less expectation.

The French wildcard entry ought to present the 24-time Grand Slam champion with little greater than an honest exercise earlier than dealing with harder opposition, however after dropping to fortunate loser Luca Nardi at Indian Wells, Djokovic will not take him frivolously.

Together with the French Open, the Serb gained the Australian and US Open final 12 months, additionally reaching the Wimbledon closing, and commenced 2023 with the Adelaide title, however this 12 months Djokovic has didn’t make a single closing.

His performances on clay this season have seen Djokovic exit Monte Carlo and Geneva on the semi-final stage, whereas in Rome he misplaced within the third spherical, however Paris is what he is been aiming for.

“I do know precisely what I must do in Grand Slam setting or Grand Slam competitors, so to say,” Djokovic informed reporters.

“It is an entire totally different sort of event and really feel for the event than some other, actually, tournaments that we now have within the calendar.”

His primary rating is now below critical risk by Jannik Sinner, who ended Djokovic’s title defence in Australia on the semi-final stage, and the 37-year-old will want a major enchancment in Paris to retain his place on the throne.

Herbert is aware of what it takes to win at Roland Garros, however his two French Open titles have come enjoying doubles, the place he has a profession Grand Slam. As a singles participant, he has but to make it previous the third spherical of the French Open.

The pair have only one earlier assembly, which came to visit a decade in the past. On the Paris Masters in 2013, Herbert was Djokovic’s first opponent, with the Serb profitable in straight units earlier than happening to win the title.

After Rafa Nadal’s exit on Monday, followers will now look to “The Djoker” to offer the leisure at Roland Garros.

Final 12 months’s overwhelmed finalist Casper Ruud can be in motion, taking up Brazilian qualifier Felipe Meligeni Alves. The Norwegian seventh seed is contemporary from his victory in Geneva the place he performed the semi-final and closing on Saturday.

“I simply discover it calm, peaceable, and at a 250 it is a smaller occasion, and I can concentrate on all of the follow I need to do and likewise play matches on the similar time,” Ruud stated when he arrived in Paris.

World quantity two Aryna Sabalenka begins her quest to finish Iga Swiatek’s domination at Roland Garros when she performs Russian Erika Andreeva. Sabalenka, Australian Open champion, reached the semi-finals final 12 months, her finest efficiency in Paris.

Fourth seed Elena Rybakina will purpose to place her latest well being points behind her when she faces Belgian Greet Minnen. The Kazakh pulled out of Indian Wells and missed the Italian Open, and final 12 months withdrew in Paris earlier than the third spherical.