Novak Djokovic feels he is ready for Roland Garros. The number one in the world took his first title of 2022 in Rome on Sunday and notices that despite a turbulent start to the year, he is on schedule.
“I played great, especially during the quarterfinals,” said Djokovic, who did not give up a set in Rome last week and won the Masters tournament for the sixth time in his career.
“In the last few weeks I have been playing better and I knew that I always have my top form on clay around the Rome tournament. I could not have wished for a better run-up to Roland Garros.”
In the first months of the season, Djokovic struggled with a lack of match rhythm because he was not welcome at all tournaments. The twenty-time Grand Slam winner has not been vaccinated.
Novak Djokovic feels good in the run-up to Roland Garros.
Novak Djokovic feels good in the run-up to Roland Garros. Photo: Pro Shots
‘I pleasantly surprised myself’
The lack of rhythm is now a thing of the past, 34-year-old Djokovic also noticed during the final in Rome, in which he was too strong for Stéfanos Tsitsipás. It became 6-0 and 7-6 (5) for the Serb.
“I pleasantly surprised myself. I knew what to expect and what to do and I played a perfect first set,” he said. “After that it was closer together. At this level, one or two points can turn a game around.”
Roland Garros starts on Sunday. Djokovic won the Grand Slam tournament in Paris twice, including last year.