“If Nadal is playing, he’s always a favorite,” Novak Djokovic outlines 2024 French Open speculations as he looks ahead after a devastating Australian Open loss
Tennis fans were treated to a big surprise on Day 12 of the 2024 Australian Open. Playing host to the semi-finals of the men’s singles, World No. 4 Jannik Sinner overpowered defending champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to reach the finals of the Grand Slam event.
Sinner won the match 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(8), 6-3 to reach his first-ever finals of a Major. It was a total domination by the Italian denting the Serb’s chance of winning the AO for a record-extending 11th time. Already a winner of 24 Grand Slam titles in the singles, Nole was also looking for his 25th Major.
The win would have made him the undisputed leader in Grand Slam titles. In the Open Era, he is already at the top with 24 titles, surpassing Serena Williams‘ record of 23 titles. Only Margaret Court is tied with Nole, although the Aussie legend won her titles in both the amateur and Open Era.
With the 2024 French Open now the next Major, Djokovic was questioned about whether he sees himself winning the event yet again. He will be the defending champion in Paris as well, but the Serb was cautious about making any predictions given that 14-time Roland Garros winner Rafael Nadal is also expected to play.
That’s really far away. Let’s see how, you know, how the players play in the next several months, particularly on the clay, in the clay season. It’s completely different surface, conditions. Some players, you know, are probably more favorites than others on clay, you know, just because it’s kind of a surface that suits certain type of tennis players.
Said Djokovic speaking in the press conference.
But of course, you know, if Nadal is playing, he’s always a favorite there, No. 1, no doubt. Regardless of the fact that he hasn’t played much, but he is who he is in Roland Garros. Of course Alcaraz, Sinner. Anybody that is on the top, you know. I think rankings-wise you can take the first five, ten players in the world, and everyone is a favorite to win. It still takes several months, so let’s see how everything evolves.
