Novak Djokovic 'can play until he's 40' and is French Open favourite over Carlos Alcaraz – Mats Wilander

Novak Djokovic is the French Open favourite «in my eyes», reckons Mats Wilander, who also think the Serbian «can play until he's 40». That was the three-time French Open champion's view as he assessed Djokovic's prospects at the 2023 French Open in conversation with Tim Henman and Barbara Schett on Eurosport's 'The Cube'.

Ad Djokovic kicks off his campaign against 24-year-old American Aleksandar Kovacevic on Monday at Roland-Garros, in a bumper Day 2 of action that also sees Carlos Alcaraz play his first-round match. Roland-GarrosFrench Open order of play, Day 2 — Djokovic, Alcaraz and Norrie in first-round action10 HOURS AGO The pair are forecast to face off in the semi-finals, and Wilander thinks the Serbian can make life difficult for the much-fancied Alcaraz.

«I think if Alcaraz plays his best tennis, I think that it would be very difficult for anyone to beat him,» Wilander said. «But you have to make him play worse, and I think Novak Djokovic is one of the few guys that can actually, somehow, make Alcaraz doubt himself, make Alcaraz come up with unforced errors which he doesn't do against other players.

»He [Djokovic] is going to get five matches before he runs into Alcaraz — that's enough practice for Djokovic. Evans promises 'soul-searching' after 'shocking' loss, Robson backs Brit to 'thrive' on grass Watch as Pouille sings French national anthem with crowd after first Grand Slam win since 2019 'Wake-up call' for Tsitsipas, says Wilander after nervy first-round win at French Open «Yes, it's uncomfortable because you can be blown off the court by Alcaraz — that's just the name of the game, that's being 36 years old against a 20-year-old.