"Whether it's next week or the week after, he will be ready to defend his title at Roland Garros" - Greg Rusedski on Novak Djokovic
Despite Novak Djokovic's indifferent start to 2022, Greg Rusedski feels the World No. 1 will not be found wanting at Roland Garros this summer.
Djokovic will open his campaign at the Serbia Open this week against compatriot Laslo Djere or Hamad Medjedovic. He has won only two matches all year and was allowed to defend his title at the Australian Open due to a visa controversy owing to his unvaccinated status.
Sreda je rezervisana za spektakl u kojem će se naći sa jedne strane @DjokerNole sa druge jedan od srpskih igrača, mlada nada našeg tenisa Hamad Međedović ili ove sezone izuzetan na šljaci Laslo Đere. https://t.co/BET0yffCCv
The 34-year-old was ousted in the quarterfinals of Dubai by Czech journeyman Jiri Vesely. Djokovic then suffered a shock second-round exit against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Monte Carlo.
Rusedski, a former top-10 player, believes Djokovic needs to get a few wins under his belt to be fully ready for his Roland Garros title defense. In an interview with Eurosport, the Brit said:
"How he wins doesn't matter. He just needs to win games, even if it's ugly. You don't lose class. You miss the liveliness of matches, but winning becomes a habit. He must get back on the bandwagon. Whether it's next week or the week after, but he will be ready to defend his title at Roland Garros."
Djokovic could meet the returning Dominic Thiem in the Belgrade quarterfinals before a potential title showdown with Andrey Rublev.
"I hope to play more matches in Belgrade than in Monte Carlo" - Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic has had an unusual 2022 campaign. After the Australian Open controversy, the Serb couldn't participate in Indian Wells and Miami owing to his unvaccinated status.
Following his early exit from Monte Carlo, Djokovic finds himself woefully short of match practice.
The world No. 1 is one-and-done in Monte Carlo.
In his first clay-court match of 2022, and just his fourth this season, Novak Djokovic falls to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1.
On @alexdavidovich1's big win—his first over a Top 5 player: tennis.com/news/articles/…
Ahead of his Belgrade opener, the Serb spoke about the importance of match practice, especially on a surface like clay.
"I was not ready for the tournament in Monte Carlo, and I knew that before the tournament started. However, I need match practice, and this is the surface (clay) that requires a lot of time spent during training sessions, and even more during matches. I hope to play more matches in Belgrade than in Monte Carlo."
Djokovic added that he intends to play Madrid and Rome and hopes to arrive in the best possible shape at Roland Garros.
"Roland Garros is the quintessential clay-court tournament, and I am partly already there in my thoughts, in terms of preparation and everything I'm doing at the moment to get there as ready as I can be. My current plans include Madrid and Rome. It depends, really, on my results here and the shape I'm in. We'll decide then."
It remains to be seen how the Serb fares at his home tournament ahead of his first Grand Slam appearance of the year at Roland Garros.