Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic recently expressed concern over his performance this year after suffering a defeat in the semi-finals of the Geneva tournament. Djokovic, who is currently the world number one, fell to Czech player Tomas Machac, ranked 44th, in a three-set match. The loss has raised doubts about Djokovic’s form as he prepares to defend his French Open title, a tournament he has won three times in the past.
Djokovic admitted that he has not been playing well this year and does not consider himself a favorite for the upcoming French Open. Despite some good matches here and there, Djokovic acknowledges the need to accept his current form and take each match as it comes. The 37-year-old will face Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the first round of the French Open, aiming to break his title drought this year, his first since 2018.
During the Geneva tournament, Djokovic faced health issues, including a stomach complaint that required a medical timeout. Despite the challenges, Djokovic praised Machac’s performance and stated that he wants to move on from the defeat and focus on the French Open. Djokovic, who recently achieved his 1,100th tour win, hopes to recover and be fully prepared for the upcoming Grand Slam event in Paris.
With a 14-6 record so far this year, Djokovic has had mixed results with his best performances including semi-final runs at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters. The Serbian player expressed the importance of feeling better on the court and being able to focus on tennis without distractions. Djokovic is determined to regain his form and fitness ahead of the French Open, where he could potentially lose his number one ranking to Jannik Sinner.
Machac, who reached his first tour-level semi-final in Geneva, showed resilience in his match against Djokovic, coming back from a set down to secure victory. The Czech player’s performance earned him a spot in the tournament final, where he will face either Casper Ruud or Flavio Cobolli. Meanwhile, Djokovic is focused on the bigger challenge ahead at the French Open, where he will be aiming for his fourth title and aiming to retain his top ranking.
In a post-match interview, Machac expressed his excitement about reaching his first final and credited his fighting spirit for the win against Djokovic. The 23-year-old player emphasized the importance of giving his best effort and hoping for the best when facing top-ranked opponents like Djokovic. As Djokovic continues to work on his game and address his health issues, all eyes will be on the Serbian star as he aims to make a strong comeback at Roland Garros and defend his title against tough competition.
