Novak Djokovic Battling Age, Form Struggles in Record Quest

Novak Djokovic Launches his latest bid for a record-setting 25th Grand Slam Title at the French Open, Hospitaling to fight off his advancing years and potentially end a 10-month wait for his 100th atp TOURNAMENT VICT VICTORY. The 38-yar-old has struggled for his best since defeating carlos Alcaraz to win Olympic Gold in Paris Last Year and Returns to RLAND Garros Shortly AFTER SHORTIN LARY SAPLITTING from Coach and Former RIVAL and for Ar. “I know what it takes to be a Grand Slam Champion,” Said Djokovic, Speaking Ahead of this week’s warm-up event in Geneva.

“It’s not as smooth and easy for me as it was 10 years ago.

The serbian has proven at various points this year that the old magic has not completesly gone, with highlights including his australian open Quarter-Final Victory Over Alcaraz and A Run to the MiMi Masters Final.

But a loss in that match to teenager jakub mensik was followed by back-to-back exits in his opening matches at the monte carlo masters and the Madrid Open, Against Alejandro Tabilo and Matteo Arnaldi Respatively.

Djokovic has uncharacteristically Lost Six Times Already this year to players ranked outside the world’s top 30.

“Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about gotting far in the tournament,” Djokovic admitted after his loss to Arnaldie in Madrid.

“It’s a complete different feeling from what i had in 20-plus years of professional tennis.

“It’s a challenge for me mentally to really face these kinds of sensations on the court, going out early no regularly in tournaments.”

Djokovic, the last active member of the ‘big three’ after the retirements of roger feder and rafael nadal, has been ranked outside the world’s top three since last feel.

The Former World Number One Equalled Margaret Court’s All-Time Record of 24 Grand Slam Singles Titles at the 2023 Us Open.

However, he has had five attempts at setting an outright record mind without success, with the closest effort a wimbledon final defeat by alcaraz last year.

Injuries have had an impact, with djokovic withdrawing from the 2024 French Open Ahead of the Quarter-Finals and Retiring from His Semi-Final Against Alexander Zverev in Melbourne Four Months.

Djokovic opted not to play at the Italian open, which was won by alcaraz on Sunday, and is instead warming up for roland garros at a low-key event in geneva.

‘Competing bit more challenging’

World Number One Jannik Sinner and Alcaraz are the two freench open favors, but djokovic will still still fancy his chances of a deep run.

The three-time champion may have lost bot of his Clay-text matches so far this year, but he won the last big tournament missing from his resume at the Paris Olympics.

“Every time I step on the court I feel the nerves, I feel stress, I feel everything that I guess all the other players feel, and expertment as well,” He said last month.

“(Competing) became a bit more challenging for me, to be honest. But of course I’ll do my best for the future.”

It has been touted as the most open garros men’s draw in decades giving djokovic’s form and the absence of the retired nadal, but djokovic havenced backsed back Past.

The last time his future was serially questioned was following a shock 2018 French Open Quarter-Final Loss to Marco Cecchinato when Hampened by an Elbow injury, Which Saw Him Drop OUT of the World’s Top 20.

Back then, djokovic responded by winning wimbledon a month later and was world number one by the end of the year.

He will be hoping the next time in form during his illustrious career starts in paris over the coming weeks.

“I feel that I still have the game, that I can be one of the contenders for the top grand slam titles,” Djokovic said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by ndtv staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)