Novak Djokovic on Tuesday mentioned Rafael Nadal was his favorite to win the French Open, regardless of the document 14-time champion struggling for health within the twilight of his profession. World primary Djokovic is tuning up on the Geneva Open this week earlier than the second Grand Slam of the yr begins in Paris. He mentioned if Nadal was within the French Open draw, he couldn’t be dominated out, regardless of his damage issues and rising competitors from a youthful technology. “This yr is extra open,” French Open defending champion Djokovic informed reporters on the Parc des Eaux-Vives grounds in Geneva. “Casper Ruud is definitely one of many 5 gamers who’re candidates to win. You will have Alexander Zverev, Andrey Rublev, Stefanos Tsitsipas — all of the gamers who gained a serious event on this floor this yr.
“However once you speak about Roland-Garros and Nadal is there, he’s all the time the largest favorite for me.
“After every part he has carried out on the courts at Roland-Garros, it is regular, respectfully to place him as the largest favorite.
“Clearly it is a bit of completely different together with his stage of play. Nevertheless it’s Roland-Garros, and it is Nadal.
“After that, perhaps me, if I really feel good, if I play effectively. At Roland-Garros, and all of the Grand Slams, I’m a little bit of a unique participant.”
Djokovic, who turns 37 on Wednesday, took a wild card to play in Geneva in a bid to rescue an alarming dip in type forward of his French Open title defence subsequent week.
The 28-man Swiss clay court docket event serves as a closing warm-up.
The document 24-time Grand Slam champion will arrive in Paris with out a title within the season for the primary time since 2018, until he wins Geneva.
Whereas time has caught up with 37-year-old Nadal, Djokovic mentioned he was hungry to maintain enjoying on the prime.
“I am trying to find my highest potential stage,” he mentioned.
“It is not an obligation. It is actually my want, my feeling, my ardour, my love for tennis. That is crucial. I am searching for to remain linked with that feeling.”
Djokovic mentioned he knew Geneva effectively as he has cousins within the Swiss metropolis, although he has by no means performed on the Geneva Tennis Membership earlier than.
“At this second, there isn’t any higher follow for me than match play. So I really feel like I want extra matches,” he mentioned.
“That is the way in which for me to attempt to discover the form of type that I want for Roland-Garros.”
Djokovic was on the Stade de Geneve on Monday to witness Younger Boys profitable a seventeenth Swiss soccer championship with a 1-0 victory over hosts Servette — a crew the Serb has a long-standing fondness for.
Djokovic mentioned one in all his cousins was set to marry a Servette participant — French midfielder Timothe Cognat, based on Swiss media.
Djokovic’s finest good friend, and finest man at his wedding ceremony, was defender Neven Markovic, who performed for Servette from 2013 to 2015.
“That is why I am supporting the membership,” Djokovic mentioned, jovially including that Markovic may maybe finest be categorised as a “very bodily participant”.
“I am not a soccer knowledgeable — however he is a loopy man,” he mentioned.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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