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French Open odds against Djokovic as time running out for record 25th Slam

BERLIN : If there is one tennis player who knows how to beat the odds when they are stacked against him, it is 24-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

French Open odds against tennis great Novak Djokovic as time running out for record 25th Slam

BERLIN: If there is one tennis player who knows how to beat the odds when they are stacked against him, it is 24-times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. The 38-year-old Serbian’s bid for a fourth French Open crown looks more unlikely than in many years, with Djokovic struggling for form since his run to the Australian Open semifinals back in January before retiring injured. Since then Djokovic, who has 99 tour titles to his name and is in the twilight of a glorious career, has reached only one final and has not lifted a trophy this year. After two early losses in Monte Carlo and Madrid, it was clear that Djokovic’s attempt to claim a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam could be his hardest yet. “(It is) kind of a new reality for me, I have to say, trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament,” Djokovic said after his early Madrid exit. He was expected to jumpstart his clay campaign in Rome before returning to Paris, where he won Olympic gold last year, but he skipped the Italian Open without giving a reason. Instead he picked up a surprise wild card for the Geneva Open this week, in what looks like a last-ditch attempt to get some more matches on clay under his belt before Paris. News of the wild card came as Djokovic split with his coach Andy Murray after only a few months working together. Djokovic appointed fellow former world number one Murray ahead of this year’s Australian Open and the Serb said at the Qatar Open in February that he would continue working with the Scot for an indefinite period. That time, however, ended abruptly last week with the Djokovic-Murray partnership yielding no titles and one losing final in Miami. Their partnership is now officially over as Djokovic

Sabalenka mixing things up in pursuit of first French Open title

BENGALURU : Aryna Sabalenka's game has always been synonymous with crushing power and unwavering grit but as the world number one strives to find success on different surfaces, she is adding variety to her game in her quest for a maiden French Open title.

Contenders Lining Up, Eyeing Iga Swiatek's French Open Crown

The French Open women's tournament gets under way this weekend without a clear favourite for the first time in several years, with a clutch of players in strong form and Iga Swiatek enduring an unprecedented slump. Jasmine Paolini became the eighth different player to reach a WTA 1000 final this season at last week's Italian Open before defeating Coco Gauff to clinch the biggest title of her career. Aryna Sabalenka has solidified her position as world number one while Swiatek, winner of four Roland Garros titles in the last five years, has failed to reach any tour-level final since lifting her third successive French Open almost 12 months ago.