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.
Tennis Sport News
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
Nadal enjoying pain-free life as French Open looms
PARIS :For the first time since Rafael Nadal called time on his extraordinary career, the French Open begins without the looming prospect of its most dominant champion, and while Roland-Garros turns the page on a golden era, the 14-time winner says he is content to leave the stage behind.
Queen Of Clay Iga Swiatek's Reign Under Threat At Roland Garros
Iga Swiatek has reigned supreme at Roland Garros since winning the Grand Slam for the first time as a teenager in 2020, but a difficult past year means she is far from the obvious choice this time for the title. Swiatek dropped to a ranking of fifth this week, ending a 173-week stay inside the top two which now likely means she faces a tougher path to a fifth French Open crown in six attempts. She is without a title since winning for the third time in a row in Paris last June, the first woman to do so since Justine Henin lifted the trophy from 2005-07.
India's Top-Ranked Singles Player Sumit Nagal Fails To Qualify For French Open
India's top-ranked singles player, Sumit Nagal, suffered a disappointing second-round exit from the French Open qualifiers, losing 2-6, 4-6 to Austria's Jurij Rodionov on Wednesday at Roland Garros. The defeat not only ended Nagal's campaign in Paris but also marked the first time in 2025 that he will miss the main draw of a Grand Slam. Nagal, ranked 170th in the world, had begun his qualifying journey with a confident straight-sets win over American Mitchell Krueger. However, he couldn't replicate that form against the 225th-ranked Rodionov, who wrapped up the contest in one hour and 29 minutes.
Novak Djokovic Battling Age, Form Struggles In Record Quest
Novak Djokovic launches his latest bid for a record-setting 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open, hoping to fight off his advancing years and potentially end a 10-month wait for his 100th ATP tournament victory. The 38-year-old has struggled for his best since defeating Carlos Alcaraz to win Olympic gold in Paris last year and returns to Roland Garros shortly after splitting from coach and former rival Andy Murray. "I know what it takes to be a Grand Slam champion," said Djokovic, speaking ahead of this week's warm-up event in Geneva.
Djokovic to carry on without a coach after parting ways with Murray
Novak Djokovic said he would carry on without a coach for now after parting ways with Andy Murray last week, as the Serbian prepares for his latest bid to win a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title at the French Open. The high-profile partnership with three-time Grand Slam champion Murray lasted only six months but Djokovic said his respect for the Scot had only grown in that time. “At the moment, I’m not in need of a coach. I don’t need to rush in any context.
French Open increases purse to record $63.7 million
The French Open is elevating its total purse at Roland Garros to about $63.7 million, an increase of 5.21 per cent compared to last year.