Novak Djokovic hasn’t won a match on clay this year heading into the French Open.
Playing his first clay-court match of the year, Djokovic lost to Dino Prizmic in the second round of the Italian Open.
After the match, Djokovic confirmed he wouldn’t play another match before Roland Garros.
Will Novak Djokovic ever return to the Italian Open?
Novak Djokovic lost to Dino Prizmic in his opening match…
Former Grand Slam champion Andy Roddick has now assessed Djokovic’s French Open chances.
Andy Roddick promised he wouldn’t bet against Novak Djokovic and won’t go back on that
During the latest episode of ‘Served with Andy Roddick‘, the 2003 US Open champion said the following.
“We’re not worried about Novak [Djokovic] at this point, right? He’s kicking tires, he’s kicking rust off,” said Roddick.
“You’re going in there; he hasn’t had match prep, we don’t know what he’s been doing.
“Last year he did the same thing, lost to someone, was it [Alejandro] Tabilo? Rocking up and losing in these small tournaments, then he gets to the semis of every Grand Slam!
Novak Djokovic at clay-court Masters 1000 events (2025)
- 2025 Monte Carlo Masters 2R [LOSS] vs Alejandro Tabilo
- 2025 Madrid Open 2R [LOSS] vs Matteo Arnaldi
“I promised myself I wouldn’t bet against him again, so I just can’t do it.
“He’s like a part-time tennis player who is still number four in the world all the time when he shows up.
ATP Rankings
| Rank | Name | Country | Points |
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 14,350 |
| 2 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 12,960 |
| 3 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 5,805 |
| 4 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 4,700 |
| 5 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada | 4,050 |
“There’s never been anyone that rocks up to a tournament, loses to a 20-year-old qualifier, and we’re going, eh, they’re fine, we’re good. It’s absurd, it’s like he’s going, alright, all you idiots, why don’t you all bet against me!
“He needs someone to go out and say he’s cooked. If someone comes out and says that, I’ll bet on him to take the finals.
“He’s pretty good at manufacturing things to be chippy about, so we’ll see where he goes.”
Roddick did, however, question Djokovic’s decision to skip the Geneva Open, an event he won a year ago.
“You’ve got to think he’s got to get some matches before Roland Garros, right?” he said.
“He can’t just cruise in.
“He did it last year, and it worked.
“I think you have to play something! I think you have to get three or four matches.
“But it’s a year on. Can he go play five matches in Geneva, then rock up two days later and play another tournament, putting yourself in a position where if things go well, you’re playing three weeks in a row?
“The bottom is going to fall out at some point, you can’t be 44 and not playing, rocking up and going semis. I don’t know…”
Djokovic will turn 39 before the French Open begins, where he will have an opportunity to become the oldest Grand Slam champion in Open Era history.
Who is the oldest Grand Slam champion in Open Era history?
Australia’s Ken Rosewall was 37 when he won the 1972 Australian Open title.
54 years later, Rosewall remains the oldest man to win a Grand Slam singles title.
Several players came close to breaking his record, including Djokovic himself, who won his 24th Grand Slam, at the 2023 US Open, aged 36.
Djokovic’s former rival, Roger Federer, was another 36-year-old major champion, winning the 2018 Australian Open.
No man has won a Grand Slam singles title at 38, never mind 39, something Djokovic will be looking to do next month.
Will the Serb make more history in Paris? Only time will tell.
The 2026 French Open begins on Sunday, May 24, and the men’s singles final will take place on Sunday, June 7.