NEW DELHI: World number one Novak Djokovic is set to begin his French Open title defence on Tuesday, despite a lacklustre season. The 37-year-old is aiming for his fourth Roland Garros title and a record-extending 25th major. But he has yet to win a title or reach a final in 2024, with his best performances being semi-final appearances at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters.
Djokovic has faced some setbacks this season, including being accidentally hit on the head by a metal water bottle in Rome, which caused nausea and dizziness, and suffering from a stomach problem in Geneva last week, where he was knocked out by Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic.
"I wouldn't call them holes, they are rather bumps on the road," said Djokovic.
However, he remains confident in his ability to perform in a Grand Slam environment, stating, "I have always looked ahead, what is the next challenge, and what it takes for me to be better than I was last week. I know exactly what I need to do in a Grand Slam environment. I've experienced that 24 times in my career."
On Tuesday, Djokovic will face French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert, whom he defeated in their only previous meeting at the Paris Masters in 2013. Herbert, currently ranked 142nd in the world, made the third round in 2018 but hasn't won a match on the main tour this year.
In the women's draw, world number two Aryna Sabalenka begins her quest to reach her first Roland Garros final. The two-time Australian Open champion has reached at least the semi-finals in each of the past six Grand Slam events and is the only woman to have beaten world number one Iga Swiatek in a final on clay since 2019.
Sabalenka, who had never reached the second week at Roland Garros until last year, will face Russia's Erika Andreeva in her opening match.
Other notable matches on Tuesday include fourth seed Elena Rybakina, whose best run at Roland Garros was a quarter-final spot in 2021, taking on Belgium's Greet Minnen.
In the men's singles, Argentine qualifier Roman Andres Burruchaga, the son of Jorge Burruchaga, who scored the winning goal for Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final, will make his Grand Slam debut against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff.
(Inputs from AFP)The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
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