*Djokovic - Mpetshi Perricard: 1h15 monday 25/5, Hanoi time.

Novak Djokovic is optimistic about his chances at Roland Garros 2026, despite recent injury setbacks. "I feel that if I'm healthy and can maintain physical freshness throughout the tournament, I have a very good chance," Djokovic stated at a press conference on 23/5, ahead of Roland Garros. "I proved that in Australia this year, where I came very close to another Grand Slam. So, I always maintain that belief whenever I step onto the court."

The Serbian player, who recently celebrated his 39th birthday on 22/5, is set to begin his campaign against local player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round of Roland Garros on monday 25/5. Djokovic currently holds 24 Grand Slam titles and expressed optimism in Paris before entering the fourth tournament of the season.

Djokovic trains on Philippe Chatrier court, Paris, France on 24/5 in preparation for his opening match at Roland Garros. Photo: Reuters

Djokovic's preparation for the clay-court Grand Slam was impacted by an injury that forced him off the court for over six weeks. He returned to competition earlier this month at the Rome Masters after sustaining the injury at the BNP Paribas Open in march. "This isn't how I envisioned my birthday, but I'm happy to be back on court," Djokovic remarked. "I've spent a lot of time training to improve both my fitness and technical skills in preparation for five-set matches. I don't know how long I can maintain this condition, but Grand Slams have always been my top priority in recent years."

However, his return in Rome saw him lose to Dino Prizmic in his opening match. The Serbian player admitted he wanted more matches before Roland Garros but was satisfied with his time competing at the recent Masters 1000 event. "The loss was not what I wanted. I wanted to play more, but my body didn't allow it," Nole added. "I had to go through an injury recovery process. After Indian Wells, I couldn't compete for a few months. I really wanted to go to Rome to test myself and see how my body reacted."

Despite playing only one clay-court match before arriving in Paris, Djokovic maintains his confidence for the year's second Grand Slam. "I wasn't in a ready state to compete, but I had one match to get a feel for the competition atmosphere, hear the umpire call the score, and experience the excitement before coming to Roland Garros. At that point, I wasn't even sure if I could play. Fortunately, my body's reaction and the preparation over the past 10 days have been very positive, so now I'm here, and we'll see what happens."

Djokovic also offered his perspective on fellow top players, praising Jannik Sinner's recent success and addressing Carlos Alcaraz's absence. After Djokovic's exit in Rome, world number one Jannik Sinner won the tournament, completing his collection of nine different Masters titles. Djokovic, who has won all nine Masters 1000 events at least twice, highly praised Sinner's accomplishment. "That's an extraordinary achievement," Djokovic commented. "Many people doubted Sinner's clay-court ability, but he has proven himself excellent on all surfaces. As one of two people to complete the Golden Masters, I understand how difficult that is."

Djokovic suggested that Carlos Alcaraz's absence due to a wrist injury gives Sinner an additional opportunity to contend for the title in Paris. However, the Serbian player emphasized that his primary concern remains his own physical condition. "I don't think Alcaraz's absence changes my approach much," Djokovic said. "Over the past six to eight months, my biggest challenge has been my body, not my opponents."

Separately, Djokovic clarified his position on the player campaign regarding prize money, stating he is not part of the "protest" group, which includes Aryna Sabalenka, Sinner, and other players. Members of the "soft protest" group limited their interview time during the traditional pre-tournament media day. They left press conferences exactly after 15 minutes, ironically highlighting the fact that Grand Slams currently allocate only 15% of their revenue to player prize money. "I'm not in the '15-minute' group. I'm not involved in that, nor was I present in the discussions," Nole stated.

Vy Anh