French Open 2020: Novak Djokovic - "I'll be very careful"
One day after his biggest competitors Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem , industry leader Novak Djokovic also completed his mandatory press conference before the 2020 French Open . The bottom line: Nole is ready.
by SID / red
last edit: Sep 26, 2020, 08:51 pm
Novak Djokovic (33) wants to take a step back on the pitch after his disqualification at the US Open. "I will of course be very careful when I hit a tennis ball over the court," said the world number one before the start of the French Open in Paris.
In New York, Djokovic had hit a line judge with an uncontrollably knocked ball on the neck after a burst of anger. That was a mistake "which of course I won't make a second time," said Djokovic. The scene "stayed in his head. And it will stay in my head for a while," said the Serb, who will meet Sweden's Mikael Ymer in the first round in Roland Garros.
Djokovic in the quarter-finals against Berrettini as planned
But: "I don't think that it will have a lasting effect on me in such a way that I will be unable to show my fist on the pitch or shout or something like that. It already happened in Rome, and everything is fine. It's everything again normal."
As number one in the world, Djokovic looks at the 128 grid from above - and sees his two biggest competitors in the distance: Rafael Nadal is naturally at the other end of the grid, Dominc Thiem in the third quarter. Djokovic, in turn, could meet Matteo Berrettini in the quarter-finals, then either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Daniil Medvedev. The first task with Mikael Ymer shouldn't demand any particular effort from the 17-time major winner, and the prospect of Ricardas Berankis or Hugo Dellien in round two won't cause Djokovic any sleepless nights.
Here is the men's single tableau
rg2020