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Novak Djokovic confronts a “new reality” ahead of the French Open

Novak Djokovic faces a “new reality” of physical issues and limited preparation as he heads into the French Open, despite his formidable history on clay.

Aksel Kryhlmand

·

May 20, 2026

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As Novak Djokovic prepares to turn 39 this week, the tennis world watches with a mix of anticipation and concern as he heads into the French Open.

The reigning world number one, a three-time champion at Roland Garros, faces what he himself describes as a “new reality”, one marked by persistent physical issues and an uncharacteristically lean tournament schedule.

Djokovic’s build-up to the clay-court Grand Slam has been far from ideal. He has participated in just three tournaments in 2026, a contrast to his usual preparation. His only match on clay this season ended in a surprising loss to Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open, where strapping on his shoulder was visible, indicating an ongoing injury concern.

Further compounding his struggles, Djokovic withdrew from events in Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid, signaling a cautious approach that has limited his match practice.

“I don’t recall the last time I had in the last couple of years a preparation where I didn’t have any kind of physical issues or health issues coming into the tournament,” Djokovic told AFP. “There’s always something. Kind of a new reality that I have to deal with.” This is his new reality; the growing challenge for the veteran, whose career has been built on an almost unbreakable physical resilience throughout the years. He acknowledged feeling “late half a step” and “not definitely where I want to be for the highest level.”

The enduring challenge of Roland Garros

Despite the recent setbacks, Djokovic’s history at the French Open is formidable. He has reached the quarter-finals or better in every edition since a third-round exit in 2009, a testament to his enduring quality on the demanding clay courts.

However, the physical toll of a two-week Grand Slam on an aging body, especially on clay, is immense. His last Grand Slam title came at the 2023 US Open, and he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final earlier this year, ending his reign there.

There are glimmers of hope amid the concerns though, as Djokovic will be seeded third at Roland Garros, and significantly, defending two-time champion Carlos Alcaraz is absent from the tournament.

Furthermore, Djokovic remains one of only two men to have beaten Jannik Sinner this season, overcoming the Italian in a five-set epic battle in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.

Motivation amidst the doubts

Even as his body shows signs of weakness, Djokovic’s mental fortitude appears undimmed. Following his victory over Sinner in Australia, he famously addressed his detractors. “I never stopped doubting. I never stopped believing in myself,” he stated. “There’s a lot of people that doubt me. I see there is a lot of experts all of a sudden that wanted to retire me, over the last couple of years. I want to thank them all because they gave me strength. They gave me motivation to prove them wrong.”

As he steps onto the Parisian clay, the question remains whether Djokovic’s legendary willpower and strategic brilliance can once again compensate for a body that is increasingly battling.

Sources: www.france24.com