Novak Djokovic gets his Roland Garros campaign underway today with a first-round match against Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.
The Serb is looking for his first Grand Slam win since the 2023 US Open, having not lifted a major trophy since then.
He’s got a tough road ahead in Paris, with the draw possibly pitting him against Casper Ruud as early as the fourth round.
But there is some good news for Djokovic — he won’t face Jannik Sinner, the tournament favourite, until the final if both make it that far.
Patrick Mouratoglou has questions about Novak Djokovic’s readiness
Speaking on Instagram, Mouratoglou said: “The problem I see with Novak winning Roland Garros is the fitness. How many difficult matches can he handle without having physical issues?
“It happened a lot last year. He reached the four semifinals of the Grand Slams and every time he was not at 100% at all.
“And when you have the toughest matches, if you are not at your best physically, it starts to be too difficult.
“So the draw is very important for him. If he’s already tired when he has to play Fonseca, which is going to be a tough match, what’s going to happen against Ruud?”
“And if he manages to win this one, he’s going to be destroyed. So the most important thing for him is the first round.
He continued: “Lose as little energy as possible. So winning straight sets. That’s the most important for him. He needs enough matches.
“Does he have enough? Not at all. Only one match against Indian Wells. And second, can he practice the way he needs to to be ready for a Grand Slam and even more on clay?
“He said it’s not because of physical issues here and there all the time. So we know he comes to Roland Garros with his heart, with his incredible competitiveness, which is the best in the history of this game. But without the physical that is needed to go far, very far in a Grand Slam.”
Looking back at Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard’s clay court campaign
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard hasn’t enjoyed much success during the clay season in the run-up to Roland Garros.
The Frenchman opened his swing at the Italian Open, managing one win before losing to Lorenzo Musetti in the second round.
He then moved on to a Challenger event in Bordeaux but couldn’t get past the quarterfinal stage.
Perricard’s last appearance on clay before Roland Garros was at the Geneva Open, where he went out in the first round.
This will be his first meeting with Djokovic on the ATP Tour.
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