PARIS, FRANCE – MAY 30: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts against Roberto Carballes Baena of Spain in the Men’s Singles second round match during Day Five of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on May 30, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
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With or without two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the draw, Novak Djokovic believes he has “a very good chance” to compete for a record 25th Grand Slam title when Roland Garros begins on Sunday.
The 24-time major champion begins what appears to be a difficult draw against huge-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard on Sunday (2 p.m., TNT).
“[Alcaraz] is a two-time defending champion of Roland Garros,” Djokovic, who turned 39 on Saturday, told reporters on Saturday of the Spaniard, who is out with a wrist injury. “Of course it’s a big blow for the tournament not to have him. I don’t think it does significantly change [my approach to the tournament], to be honest, because I have been through challenging times with my body in the last six to eight months.
“I am not really thinking about if I have better chances or not with Carlos being here or not being here, because I feel that if I’m healthy and I’m able to maintain that level of freshness throughout the tournament… then I feel like I always have a very good chance. I have proven that in Australia this year where I was close to winning another slam.
“I always have that belief in myself when I’m on the court.
John McEnroe was among those to suggest that the door may have opened a bit for Djokovic without Alcaraz in the draw.
“You’d have to say that when it looked even bleaker that he’d win another [major], the door’s opened up obviously more for [Djokovic] as well as [Alexander] Zverev, for example, and others that have been struggling,” McEnroe said in response to my question on a TNT Sports Zoom call previewing the French Open.
Djokovic, who owns a career 101-17 lifetime record in Paris in 21 career appearances, has only played once match since developing a right forearm injury at Indian Wells that developed into a right shoulder injury. He lost in his first match at the Italian Open to Dino Prizmic.
“To be honest, it was a higher force,” he said when asked why he hadn’t tried to play more during the clay season. “I wanted to play more, but my body was not allowing me. I was going through a rehabilitation process for my injury.
“After Indian Wells, it was just not possible for me to compete for several months. That’s the reason why.”
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – JANUARY 08: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard of France celebrates victory in his second round Men’s Singles match against Rinky Hijikata of Australia during day five of the 2026 Brisbane International at Pat Rafter Arena on January 08, 2026 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
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Djokovic will get thrown straight into the fire on Sunday against Perricard, now coached by former world No. 4 Greg Rusedski.
“With Novak, you can never discount what he can do on a court,” Rusedski told TNT Sports.
“The greats of our game, they always find a way to raise their game. Especially at the beginning of tournaments.
“No disrespect to Rome, he would have liked a few more matches, but Prizmic played an incredible match against him.
“Novak won the first set and lost the next two, but this is a different style match-up.
“Gio has a huge serve, he’s more attacking and likes to come into the net.
“If you let Novak dictate from the back of the court, you’re usually second best.
“We’ve got to get the tactics right, we’ve got to be aggressive and that’s the key against Novak. It’s a wonderful opportunity.”
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – OCTOBER 17: Jannik Sinner of Italy (L) celebrates winning match point against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during day two of the Six Kings Slam 2024 at Kingdom Arena on October 17, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
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If Djokovic can somehow navigate this match, and his difficult draw, he is drawn to meet world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the final on June 7.
Djokovic beat Sinner in a five-set Australian Open semifinal, but Sinner has been on a heater of late, winning 29 straight matches and five straight ATP Masters 1000 titles to open 2026.
Sinner is bidding to complete the career Grand Slam in Paris.
“He’s going for his Golden Slam as well here if I’m not mistaken,” Djokovic said. He’s maybe in the form of his life, and without Carlos being here also increases his chances even more of claiming more Grand Slam titles.
“So we’re all here to try to win against him and prevent him from taking more titles.”
This article was originally published on Forbes.com