Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic is true the place he needs to be after a gradual begin to his clay-court season.
Back on the Italian Open — the clay occasion the place he is had his most success.
The top-ranked Serb is a six-time champion in Rome and six-time runner-up.
“Historically throughout my career, Rome has always been a very nice tournament for me,” Djokovic mentioned on Thursday. “Hopefully it can serve, again, as a great, great springboard for me to what’s coming up in Paris where I want to play my best.”
The French Open, the clay-court grand slam, begins on the finish of the month, and Djokovic is hoping so as to add a 3rd title at Roland Garros after his victories in 2016 and 2021.
Djokovic is returning after three weeks off attributable to a lingering difficulty together with his surgically repaired proper elbow.
In his earlier two tournaments on purple clay, Djokovic had consecutive early exits.
He misplaced within the spherical of 16 at Monte Carlo to Lorenzo Musetti. Then Dusan Lajovic beat him within the quarterfinals of the Srpska Open in Bosnia and Herzegovina, dealing him his first loss to a countryman in 11 years.
“It’s all good,” Djokovic mentioned of his elbow. “I mean, there’s always some things here and there that bother you on this level. It’s normal.
“Also while you’re not 25 anymore, I suppose you expertise {that a} bit greater than what was the case,” added Djokovic, who will turn 36 the day after this tournament ends. “It takes just a little bit extra time to recuperate.”
Djokovic, who won the Australian Open at the start of the year, is clearly aiming to peak around the grand slams.
After a first-round bye, he’ll open with a night match on Friday against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, an Argentine who reached clay finals in Santiago, Chile, and Houston earlier this year.
No matter his results at the Foro Italico, Djokovic will cede the No.1 ranking back to Carlos Alcaraz after this tournament.
Alcaraz, who is making his Rome debut, is seeded second and in the opposite side of the draw from Djokovic.
While they have been trading the top spot back and forth, it’s the first time this year that both Djokovic and Alcaraz have entered the same tournament.
Alcaraz missed the Australian Open due to injury and Djokovic missed the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells, California, and Miami, because he was prevented from entering the United States since he is not vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Then Djokovic missed the Madrid Open because of his elbow. Alcaraz won the tournament on Sunday.
“It is unusual that we’ve not been in the identical draw because the starting of the season. Due to the circumstances on either side, that did not occur,” Djokovic said. “He’s been taking part in some very spectacular tennis, an amazing stage. He’s the participant to beat on this floor, little doubt.
“Of course, it depends if (Rafael) Nadal is going to play in (the) French Open or not. But Alcaraz is one of the top favorites without any dilemma.”
Nadal, who holds the document of 10 titles in Rome, will not be taking part in as he stays hampered by a nagging hip harm, leaving his standing for Roland Garros in query.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
