Novak Djokovic: Annabel Croft says Serbian shouldn’t be trying in nice form heading in the direction of French Open

Annabel Croft admits the stress of what Novak Djokovic is attempting to attain by successful a landmark a centesimal ATP Tour title and document twenty fifth Grand Slam is getting tougher and tougher.

Djokovic is already out of the Italian Open in Rome subsequent week following a three-match dropping streak, having crashed out of the Madrid Open following defeat by Matteo Arnaldi.

After defeat by Arnaldi, 37-year-old Djokovic stated he needed to adapt to a “new reality” the place he is simply joyful to win “a match or two”.

He faces arriving on the French Open with out having gained a match on clay since his emotional victory over Carlos Alcaraz final summer season within the Olympic remaining.

Djokovic has performed a fuller schedule than final season, when his bid for a record-breaking twenty fifth Grand Slam title fell brief, but it surely has not helped him discover any constant type, with the world No 5 dropping his opening match in 4 of his final 5 tournaments.

Talking to Sky Sports activities Tennis, former British No 1 Croft stated: “His whole focus is on including to that Grand Slam tally. He desires to maneuver above Margaret Court docket [24 Grand Slam titles]; he desires to change into the best tennis participant, but it surely’s getting tougher and tougher, and truly, I all the time really feel like he is simply gone a bit flat on the court docket as effectively.

“He simply cannot discover it, he cannot discover that successful components. He did not win a serious final 12 months, which was extraordinary, however all 4 majors have been break up between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, and truly, after I take a look at his outcomes, he is had some extraordinary losses to very low-ranked gamers – to Alejandro Tabilo [in Monte-Carlo] and Matteo Arnaldi right here. Numerous completely different gamers who he would not usually lose to, so he is positively dropping confidence.

“The last great match that I think he played was against Alcaraz in Australia [Djokovic won in four sets to reach the semi-finals].

“It was completely phenomenal however then he needed to pull out after that epic tie-break first set towards [Alexander] Zverev, and he hasn’t been the identical since, so I do not fairly know what is going on on, whether or not there’s distractions, or he is simply not joyful, or he is misplaced confidence, however no matter’s taking place, he is not trying in nice form heading in the direction of the French Open, and we all know he is now pulled out of Rome.”

“I believe he is not in nice form, so I do not know if he can kind it out forward of the French Open.”

Is motivation a significant factor for Djokovic?

The Serbian has stated his precedence working with Andy Murray as his coach is to peak for the French Open and Wimbledon.

Djokovic started working along with his long-time rival, who retired from taking part in in August, on a trial foundation at January’s Australian Open.

Djokovic nonetheless has hopes of reaching his a centesimal tour-level title to hitch Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) within the historical past books, however admits his precedence after performances in recent times is to peak for the Grand Slams.

Colin Fleming stated: “I think he’s still got an inner confidence that when the time comes, the ones that he’s really motivated for the most, the Grand Slams now, to get to 25, I still think he thinks he can turn it on. I don’t think he was in the right headspace to compete here [in Madrid]. It was a sort of flat and even the way he took the loss was a bit like, ‘nah, whatever, yeah, on to the next one. I’ve pulled out of Rome, I’ve got to get my head right for Roland-Garros.’

“He would not have to be taking part in the tennis to beat Alcaraz and Sinner in spherical one in Paris. He is the grasp of the two-week occasion, constructing his approach in, get via the primary few matches, discover his ft, discover his type, and he’ll nonetheless again himself.

“It’s not ideal for him, but I wouldn’t rule him out just yet of getting number 25 and indeed title number 100, but I think the 25 is the big thing for him.”

Croft: Not going to get simpler for Djokovic

With Djokovic turning 38 on Could 22, he shall be trying to find a fourth title at Roland-Garros however will not be a top-four seed on the second Grand Slam of the 12 months which may result in a blockbuster quarter-final encounter.

“His body has been tending to break down. He’s 37, I think nearly 38, not going to get any easier,” stated Croft. “I think everything is just looking very, very tough and uphill. And I think you mentioned the word aura, but you know, a lot of players now walk onto court thinking, ‘well, I do have a chance against him because he’s not playing great tennis’.

“They’d have been panicking about whether or not they have been going to get video games on the board and now all of them really feel they’ve an opportunity. And that makes it doubly troublesome for him.”

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