Novak Djokovic has earmarked Carlos Alcaraz as the favourite for this year’s French Open, but warned his Grand Slam history would hold him in good stead as he sets out for a record 23rd title at the majors.
Djokovic has struggled on clay in the build-up to Roland Garros, failing to get past the quarter-final stage at all three tournaments on the surface prior to Paris.
The Serbian, who is on a collision course with Alcaraz in the semi-finals, said: “Right now, he is the biggest favourite regardless of the fact that he has one Grand Slam and I have 22. He’s No1 in the world and he’s a player that won big titles on clay this season.
“Then again, Grand Slams are a different tournament, a different sport in a way because you’re playing best-of-five, you are playing in the most important tournaments in the world, and the experience is on my side.
“But how much will that play a role in the eventual head-to-head if I get to play him or not, we’ll get to see. But in terms of looking at it from the prospective of the game itself and the form, I think he’s the No1 favourite now.”
Fourteen-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal ruled himself out of the tournament in the lead-up because of his ongoing injury problems, a withdrawal Djokovic said was a relief such is his record against the Spaniard in Paris.
He is currently level on 22 Grand Slams with Nadal but looks the far likelier to build on that tally, with Nadal likely to miss the rest of the season.
Of his place in the record books, Djokovic said: “It’s no secret that one of the main reasons I play today and compete in professional tennis is to try to break more records and make more history in tennis.
“It’s extremely motivating and inspiring for me. But things are different than they were 10 years ago in terms of how my body is maybe responding to the schedule. I’m feeling good at the moment, I don’t have any physical issues that worry me.”
