Novak Djokovic has aired concerns about his form heading into the French Open this weekend. The 37-year-old suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Tomas Machac at the Geneva Open on Friday, with a ‚horrible‘ feeling leading him to consult medical attention after the first set.
Djokovic’s early 4-1 advantage was obliterated by the world No 44 in Switzerland as he won five games on the trot to take a one-set lead in the semi-final. The Serb was seen by a doctor on court and responded by winning the second set 6-0.
But things clearly aren’t falling into place for Djokovic as he was outclassed in the decider, with Machac reaching the first ATP Tour final of his career by notching a shock 6-4 0-6 6-1 win.
After the match, with his French Open first-round match against Pierre-Hugues Herbert just around the corner, Djokovic admitted that poor recent form is weighing on his mind heading into Roland Garros.
„Of course I’m worried,“ he said. „I didn’t play well at all this year, except for a few matches here and there. Things are what they are. I don’t see myself as a favorite in Paris. I will try to take the matches one after the other.“
On the match itself, and what prompted him to seek medical attention on court, Djokovic added: „I didn’t have a great night, and today it was difficult.
„I had horrible sensations during the first set of the match. I don’t want to take any credit away from Tomas, who deserved his victory, but I don’t know what to think of this match. I prefer to forget it.“
Djokovic was desperate for a positive outcome in Geneva, having failed to reach the final of a tournament this calendar year. His Italian Open bid was ended by Alejandro Tabilo earlier this month, and Casper Ruud dumped him out of the Monte-Carlo Masters before that.
A favourable draw on paper – against French wildcard Herbert – gives Djokovic a good chance of rebuilding some momentum early on in Paris. But bookmakers now make Carlos Alcaraz favourite for the French Open, ahead of the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
World No 1 Djokovic notched straight-sets wins over Yannick Hanfmann and Tallon Griekspoor in Geneva before coming up short against Machac.