“He is no longer the outstanding favourite, but…” Former British No.1 Laura Robson slams critics for not believing in Novak Djokovic’s ability to win big titles

Laura Robson is not counting out Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros.

“He is no longer the outstanding favourite, but…” Former British No.1 Laura Robson slams critics for not believing in Novak Djokovic’s ability to win big titles

Novak Djokovic (Image via: Imago)

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has had a disappointing 2024 season by his standards. The Serbian tennis legend has gone the first five months of the season without clinching any ATP titles, a rare occurrence for him since 2018.

Poor performances from Djokovic have caught the attention of many tennis pundits, including former World No. 1 Laura Robson. In an interview with Tennis365, the former British champion expressed her belief that the 24-time Grand Slam champion can still contribute significantly to the legacy he has built in this sport.

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It’s so unusual for him not to be in peak form leading up to a Slam, but then there are other times when it’s happened and he has been totally fine by the time he gets to the third round and plays through a few matches.
Laura Robson said in an interview with Tennis365

Djokovic has opted for a wildcard entry into the Geneva tournament following a devastating loss at the Italian Open against Alejandro Tabilo. The tennis legend is set to face Yannick Hanfmann in the Round of 16, who defeated former World No.1 Andy Murray in the preceding round.

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He has so much confidence in these situations and you can only have that belief by winning as much as he has in his life. To beat him in a Slam is very, very tough to do. So I would put him in as one of the top three favorites for the tournament. Novak Djokovic is going to be just fine when he gets to a Slam.
Lauro Robson said

Ranking Novak Djokovic’s chances at Roland Garros

With Roger Federer retired and Rafael Nadal nearing his own farewell, the path to dominance at Roland Garros would typically have been wide open for Novak Djokovic. However, the Serbian has encountered a tumultuous 2024 season thus far.

Novak Djokovic Roland Garros
Novak Djokovic at Rome

It began with a surprising defeat to Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the Australian Open, halting his streak of staying unbeaten beyond the Melbourne last four. Following that, he suffered an unexpected early exit from Indian Wells at the hands of lucky loser Luca Nardi.

Despite a respectable showing at the Monte Carlo tournament, where he reached the semi-finals, Djokovic’s fortunes took a turn for the worse in Rome. After securing a first-round victory against Corentin Moutet, he was struck by a metallic bottle while signing autographs, requiring medical attention before being escorted off the court.

The incident appeared to impact Djokovic in his subsequent match, where he was convincingly defeated by Alejandro Tabilo with a score of 6-2, 6-3. Regardless of his performances in Geneva, a cloud hangs over him as he approaches the Roland Garros campaign. However, the silver lining for him is that other top players are also struggling to find their footing.

Sinner has been sidelined since withdrawing from the Madrid quarter-finals due to a hip injury, with rumors circulating that he may have to withdraw from the French Open. Additionally, Carlos Alcaraz has been grappling with an elbow injury that has caused him to miss two out of three Masters 1000 titles.

So, will the lack of competition weigh on Djokovic’s mind, or does he indeed face genuine issues in his game? The answers will unfold over the coming weeks in Paris.

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