Novak Djokovic will be “the most disappointed” player with Rafael Nadal’s absence from the French Open, according to Eurosport expert Mats Wilander.
Nadal — a 14-time Roland-Garros champion — pulled out of the tournament last week due to a lack of fitness. Ad Wilander believes his absence will change the mindset of older players, especially Djokovic, who he believes would have wanted to face Nadal in his bid for a record-breaking 23rd major.
Roland-GarrosNadal set to leave top 100, but who else faces big post-French Open ranking drop?3 HOURS AGO “I think that in a way, you're disappointed maybe more than anything that you don't get to play Rafa somewhere,” he guessed. “And I would think for Novak Djokovic, he’s most probably the most disappointed player in the whole tournament. “Because surely he would like to win his 23rd — his third French Open — by beating Rafa Nadal along the way." Both Djokovic and Nadal have won 22 Grand Slam titles each in their respective careers, and a third French Open triumph for Djokovic would make him the most successful player of all time when it comes to major honours.
Nadal's absence will 'fuel' Djokovic as 'end of an era' approaches — McEnroe McEnroe: Nadal reminds me of LeBron, could win French Open next year “It's such a big time in tennis right now in terms of the history of the game and the history of being the greatest ever,” Wilander continued. “And when we don't get Novak because of the Covid vaccine situation and now we don't get Rafa because of injury, the race is kind of weird in my mind. “I mean, I've always said it.