World No 1 Novak Djokovic heads to the French Open insisting he is not “obsessed” with winning the one Grand Slam to elude him.
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The 2015 French Open men’s victor, Stan Warwinka, will return to defend his title, but he’ll have some major competition from the number one seed and -133 odds favorite Novak Djokovic, who will be trying for the fifth time to complete his career Grand Slam.
However, Murray had his nemesis’ number in the final of the Internazionali d’Italia and went the distance with Djokovic in an epic semi-final at Roland Garros 12 months ago.
Djokovic, who was upset by Stan Wawrinka in last year’s final, will begin his campaign against qualifier Lu Yen-hsun and has been handed a comfortable draw until the semi-finals where he is scheduled to play nine-time champion Rafael Nadal.
Andy Murray acknowledges that clay could now been considered his best surface after winning three titles in the previous year.
“I’m going to sue her, and I’m going to sue everyone who [is] going to comment [on] something similar in the future, because I am exhausted of that”, he said according to the Guardian.
“So of course I anticipate myself to try to get my hands on this title this year”. However, with Djokovic looking well-nigh invincible in his current form despite the blip against Murray in the Rome Masters final, the scene is set for Rafa’s sheer spirit to triumph over the ideal tennis machine that Djokovic has become.
“I have been making steady progress with my overall fitness, but I am still not 100% and feel I might be taking an unnecessary risk by playing in this event before I am really ready”. “You know, time never stops”.
Reigning US Open champion Djokovic surpassed Roger Federer as the highest-earning tennis player in history earlier this year with victory at the Miami Open.
This first at the French Open is preceded by a series of other worrying firsts for Nadal. “So I hope to continue playing well here”, said Nadal. Djokovic should have few problems before the fourth round, where 14th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut could be waiting.
Women’ s singles defending champion Serena Williams said it would be unusual not to see Federer in Paris, but understood his worries.
Williams faces a possible quarterfinal against Belarussian former number one Victoria Azarenka and a potential meeting with Germany’s Angelique Kerber in the last four.
Djokovic also has to worry about No. 2-ranked Andy Murray, who beat him on clay in Rome at the Italian Open last week (after the match, Djokovic had strong words for the referee who wouldn’t stop play to get the drizzly courts cleaned up). It was her first win against a top 10 player since 2014.
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Meanwhile, Federer has struggled with a back injury and has been forced to pull out from the French Open after failing to recover in time.
