Novak Djokovic vs. Pierre-Hugues Herbert

“Low expectations but high hopes” is how Djokovic describes his mindset as he tries to defend his title at Roland Garros. The 37-year-old hasn’t had a good season by his standards. For the first time in years, he comes to Paris without a title; his coaching team is unsettled; and his last two defeats, in Rome and Geneva, were lackluster efforts at best.

But as Alexander Zverev said recently, Djokovic “will be at his best” in Paris. “That’s just the way it is.” It’s certainly hard to argue with his record at majors. Djokovic’s hopes may high in part because his old nemesis at this event, Rafael Nadal, has already made his exit.

Djokovic will start with a night match in Chatrier against Herbert, a 33-year-old doubles specialist from France. Even with the crowd firmly in favor of Herbert, though, he probably won’t scare Djokovic. PHM is ranked 142nd now, and hasn’t qualified for an ATP main draw so far this year. His trademark is his acrobatic service motion, and the arcing kick that it produces. Even against a Djokovic in relative disarray, though, Herbert will need a lot more than that on Tuesday. Winner: Djokovic

Twenty-four time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is yet to win a tour title in 2024, the 36-year-old having featured in only three tournaments so far this year; watch Djokovic face Corentin Moutet at the Italian Open from 6pm Friday, live on Sky Sports Tennis

Novak Djokovic says he is yet to find his highest level as he prepares for his opening match of the Italian Open on Friday, live on Sky Sports.

The men’s world No 1 has played in only three tournaments so far in 2024, losing in the semi-finals of both the opening Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, and on the clay at the Monte-Carlo Masters last month.

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The Italian Open represents Djokovic’s final tune-up ahead of his title defence at the French Open, where the 36-year-old is hoping “to arrive ready to fight for a title”, with further Slam opportunities at Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as the Olympics, lying in wait this summer.

“Obviously the block of Roland-Garros, Wimbledon, Olympics and US Open is the most important of the year for me. That’s the priority and what I’m setting my form for.

“Hopefully I can find that desired level of tennis this week; Roland-Garros is definitely where I want to arrive ready to fight for a title.”

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Novak Djokovic’s deportation from Australia amid over his Covid vaccine status in 2022 is one of the biggest stories in the history of tennis and now the old wounds have been revived by cricket legend Kevin Pietersen.

Djokovic was deported from Australia in January 2022 after failing to overturn the decision to cancel his visa as he attempted to defend his title at the first Grand Slam of the year in Melbourne.

The Serbian had the option of trying to take the legal fight further but said in a statement he would cooperate with the deportation despite being “extremely disappointed” by the decision.

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The chaos created global headlines as the world grappled with the Covid-19 crisis and the emergence of vaccines, yet there has been a twist in the story over the last few days.

After more than three billion doses, the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine is being withdrawn, sparking a fresh debate over the impact it had.

The reputation of the AstraZeneca vaccine was dented as unusual blood clots emerged as a rare side effect of the vaccine, forcing the UK to turn to alternatives.

According to a BBC report, the vaccine “is estimated to have saved millions of lives during the pandemic, but also caused rare, and sometimes fatal, blood clots”.

Djokovic was widely criticised for his refusal to take a vaccine, as he insisted he would only put products into his body that he was comfortable with.

Now former England batsman Pietersen has suggested Djokovic has been proved right in his stance, after posting a tweet he later deleted.

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“It’s time for every single person (who criticised) and the Australian government to issue an apology to Novak Djokovic now,” wrote Pietersen.

“I think that would be fitting as he went through HELL! It seems he was onto something…”

Djokovic has spoken at length about his decision to refuse to take a Covid vaccine, with that decision affecting his career severely into 2023 as he was blocked from entering several tournaments due to travel vaccine mandates including the 2022 US Open.

“I don’t want to do that. I also don’t want to live too much in the future. I want to be as much as in the present moment but of course think about the future, create a better future.

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“At the same time, it’s the conscious decision I made and I knew that there is always a possibility that I won’t go to America.”

In an interview he gave to the BBC shortly after the Australian deportation, he outlined the reasons for his decision to decline the vaccine.

“I say that everybody has the right to choose or act or say or feel whatever is appropriate for them,” he stated.

“I’m trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can.

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“I understand that there is a lot of criticism, and I understand that people come out with different theories on how lucky I was or how convenient it is.

Tennis legend Paul McNamee has hailed Novak Djokovic’s latest “remarkable achievement,” with the Serbian set to extend his reign as the oldest No 1 in ATP history.

Having recently overtaken Roger Federer as the oldest player to ever be world No 1 – across either the men’s or women’s games – recent results mean his time at the top will continue.

Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from his Madrid Open quarter-final means it is now all but impossible that he can replace the Serbian at the top spot before the French Open later this month.

While Carlos Alcaraz’s loss in the last eight of his home Masters 1000 event means that he has lost even further ground, with the world No 3 set to be over 2,500 points behind Djokovic when the rankings update next week.

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All that means Djokovic will be No 1 on May 22nd – when the 24-time Grand Slam champion celebrates his 37th birthday, just before his Roland Garros title defence.

Federer was aged 36 when he was last world No 1 in 2018, while Serena Williams was the oldest WTA No 1 in WTA history, aged 35 in 2017.

A long-time supporter of Djokovic, Australian McNamee – a five-time doubles major winner and former No 1 in that discipline – took to social media to congratulate the Serbian.

He said: “After all Novak Djokovic has been through, including in my country, which would have broken many athletes, let’s give credit where credit is due… being #1 turning 37 years of age is a remarkable achievement.”

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Recent results mean that Djokovic is not only going to be the first 37-year-old to be world No 1 but will also extend his reign as the longest-reigning No 1 in ATP history.

He currently has spent 423 weeks at the top of the ATP rankings, first holding the top spot in July 2011, and having spent the last 34 weeks as No 1 after regaining the ranking following his US Open victory last September.

Though there will be rankings pressure on him across Roland Garros and also Wimbledon – where he reached the final in 2023 – it is not impossible to imagine Djokovic reaching 450 weeks as No 1.

With fewer points to defend over the next two months, Sinner has a fairly strong chance of usurping him.

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But doubts currently circle over the world No 2’s fitness after sustaining a hip injury during his Madrid campaign.

After missing Madrid, Djokovic is set to return at the Italian Open next week, where he reached the quarter-final 12 months ago.

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It will be his second clay event of 2024, after reaching the last four in Monte Carlo.

Goran Ivanisevic, and now fitness coach Marco Panichi. Novak Djokovic announces his separation from fitness coach Marco Panichi just weeks after a shock split with his long-time tennis coach. This 24-time Grand Slam champion has continued to trim down his team this season as he has dropped another shocker, before getting ready to go solo, all by himself.

Recently, the world’s number-one-ranked tennis player took to his Instagram account to share how his successful association with his fitness coach has come to an end. He wrote, “Grande Marco, what amazing years of collaboration we’ve had. We reached the summit, won titles, broken records. But most of all, I have enjoyed our most “ordinary” days of training in and out of the gym.” 

Further, he added, “Endless hours of “carciofini” and laughs that made me feel super motivated to prepare for success. Grazie Romanista (as Goran calls you) for all the energy, effort and time you invested in making me the best possible player and person I can be. Much love ❤️ and I will see you soon in Roma. Forzaaaa.” 

In 2019, Marco Panichi joined the Serb’s coaching staff, contributing a plethora of knowledge and experience. Panichi had been well-known in the tennis world before he joined Djokovic, having worked with big names like Li Na and Fabio Fognini. He has also helped other national teams, such as Germany’s and Italy’s, achieve victory.

READ MORE NEWS :EXCLUSIVE :Novak Djokovic Records His Second-Longest Trophyless Start To A Season With Madrid Withdrawal

Not only that, as a fitness coach, he has been a key player in Djokovic’s career since they teamed up, since the Serbian has helped him win an incredible ten Grand Slam titles.  Nearly a month ago, the 36-year-old Serbian tennis player ended his tenure with coach Goran Ivanisevic. The two had worked together since 2018, and during that time, Djokovic won 12 Grand Slam titles.

“Our on-court chemistry had its ups and downs, but our friendship was always rock solid,” Djokovic wrote in an Instagram post. In spite of this, Djokovic has not yet won a championship in 2024; he lost in the Australian Open quarterfinals in January and the Indian Wells third round this month. But after 20 years of playing professional tennis, the world number one has expressed interest in possibly going it alone without a coach.

Novak Djokovic looks out to go solo – ‘no coach is an option’

Just a few days ago, the 24-time Grand Slam champion talked in an interview about how there is not much need for a coach for him at this moment. He stated, “It’s not like I think I don’t need a coach at all. I think there’s always value in having that quality team… But I think I’m in the stage of my career where I can afford to maybe think having no coach is also an option.”

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Confirming this choice, Djokovic accepted the top men’s prize at the Laureus Awards. Although he was accompanied by former world No. 1 in doubles Nenad Zimonjic at the Monte Carlo Masters a month ago, the 36-year-old is unsure if he wants to stay with him or decide to handle this final phase of his tennis career on his own.