Novak Djokovic keeps spirit of big four alive as hunt for 25th Grand Slam begins
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Last Monday, Rafael Nadal was cheered on by a packed audience during what could be his last showdown at Court Philippe-Chatrier, while Novak Djokovic found himself in an unfamiliar position - not being the one dominating the tennis court. In the past, the world's number one tennis player would usually be seen hitting backhands on the opposite end or chasing after a shot made by Nadal. However, it seems that by the end of 2024, Djokovic may be the only remaining member of the former "big four" players in tennis.
The Serbian tennis player was present in the audience during Nadal's defeat against Alexander Zverev, accompanied by other well-known players such as Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek. It was a bittersweet moment as they witnessed the end of an era and the possible departure of the 14-time champion from the French Open.
However, yesterday evening, the top-ranked player in the world found himself in a comfortable position once again - emerging victorious in a Grand Slam tournament.
It wasn't an easy win for the defending champion, as he faced some tough competition in the second set, but he managed to triumph in a lively atmosphere illuminated by the bright stadium lights. Djokovic was able to beat French wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert with scores of 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-4. Considering his performance this season, he should be content with how he played against a player who stepped up to the challenge of playing at night.
This year, Djokovic hasn't been playing his best tennis. He hasn't won any championships, and he even decided to join the Geneva tournament at the last minute, but he still couldn't win as he lost in the semi-finals. Before the Paris fortnight tournament, which is where he hopes to win his 25th Grand Slam, Djokovic said in a press conference that he isn't expecting to win, but he is very hopeful that he will.
Just a quick note: this would be the highest number of major singles titles won by anyone, regardless of gender.
For me, anything aside from a championship simply isn't enough, and it's always been that way," said Djokovic. "I understand that this might come across as conceited, but my record speaks for itself.
During the Grand Slams, I usually strive to play my top-notch tennis game and throughout my career, I have made it my objective to consistently do so. Therefore, my aim is to always perform at my highest level during these events.
He hasn't been playing his finest tennis since claiming victory in the end-of-season finals in Turin last year. Following a surprising loss to Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals, Djokovic hasn't made it to a final in four tournaments. In an effort to focus on the major events, he has streamlined his schedule. This is a smart decision given that Djokovic is 37 and needs to consider the limitations of his body.
As he launched his campaign on Tuesday night, the Serb appeared to be at the top of his game. Djokovic needs to reach the semi-finals at least, if he wants to maintain his top ranking, and he seemed to be completely committed to achieving this goal.
Once he won the first set, he faced a motivated adversary and a crowd that supported his opponent in the second set. However, he managed to find his top-notch skills during the tiebreak, which he usually does. He moved gracefully around the court.
In the final moments, he showcased his famous backhand pass along the sideline to secure the win. This move led to his first chance to end the match on Herbert's serve. Recognizing that he couldn't just hit an easy shot, Herbert ended up losing the point due to a double fault.
On Sunday, Andy Murray played his last game in this tournament. The same thing will most likely happen on Monday with Nadal. Even though Roger Federer has already been eliminated, Djokovic is still representing the top players in tennis. Unfortunately, Tuesday would not have the same outcome.
