Novak Djokovic is widely regarded as the greatest tennis player of all time, and one of the most remarkable athletes the world has ever seen.
After all, at the age of 38, he still remains ever-present at the apex of men’s tennis, albeit his powers have waned in recent years.
That was to be expected given what he has given to the sport over the last two decades, sacrificing everything to win what he has.
In the end though, these sacrifices have their price, and Novak Djokovic is now suffering from those years of relentlessly pursuing greatness.
Speaking ahead of Roland Garros, the legendary veteran has been discussing his chances, whilst also offering a rather dire fitness update that will surely have many writing him off as a title threat already.
Novak Djokovic admits he is struggling with physical issues again
“It is frustrating,” Djokovic began when discussing his physical state.
However, he also acknowledged that this decline had to be inevitable, stating: “At the same time it’s my decision to still perform in that kind of state and conditions.”
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Fortunately, Djokovic seems to know what he lacks, albeit it remains to be seen whether he has the physical facilities to correct it.
He concluded: “I see what I’m missing. Late half a step. I’m not definitely where I want to be for the highest level and to compete at the highest level, and to be able to get far.
“It’s not an ideal preparation, to be honest. I don’t recall the last time in the last couple of years a preparation where I didn’t have any kind of physical issues or health issues coming into the tournament. There’s always something. Kind of a new reality that I have to deal with.
“I train hard. I train as much as the body allows me to. Then how it turns out on the court, that’s really unpredictable.”
Why Roland Garros is not Novak Djokovic’s best chance to win a 25th Grand Slam title
It feels like with each passing week a new pundit suggests that Djokovic will never have a better chance to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title.
After all, with Carlos Alcaraz ruled out of Roland Garros through injury, that narrative is the obvious one.
However, it is also worth noting how clay has historically not been Djokovic’s favoured surface, with that sure to only be further exacerbated by his age and declining physical profile.
It’s no secret that the dirt is the most physically demanding of the three surfaces, promoting long, drawn-out rallies where fitness and tactics often prevail ahead of pure power.
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Alas, Sinner has power that the sport has arguably never seen before, and carved through the French Open draw last year before coming within just one point of the title.
Roland Garros is certainly an opportunity for Djokovic, but with Alcaraz having withdrawn from Wimbledon too, it’s obvious that this represents the real big chance for the Serbian.
After all, he is a seven-time winner of the event, and one of the greatest grass-court players of all time.