Djokovic On Title Hopes: ‘It’s In the Almighty’s Hands’
Djokovic On Title Hopes: ‘It’s In the Almighty’s Hands’
World No. 1 passes opening test in Paris
Novak Djokovic is aiming to complete a career Grand Slam at Roland Garros, but first he’ll have to win seven matches. On Tuesday, he opened his tournament against Yen-Hsun Lu and scored an uncomplicated 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 win.
“Whether or not I’m going to have a chance to fight for a trophy, that’s in the Almighty’s hands, I can’t influence that, but I can certainly give my best and give my all, as always,” said Djokovic.
The temperamental conditions in the French capital did not prove problematic for the World No. 1, especially against an opponent who had not played at tour-level since the Australian Open due to elbow surgery. The 2015 runner-up avoided the five-set struggles that defending champion Stan Wawrinka and Andy Murray experienced in their openers.
“We aimed to play on Monday, but it didn’t happen. But it wasn’t a big deal,” Djokovic said. “Weather conditions are not going in the favour of the tournament in the past couple of days. It’s been raining a lot. So the courts are a bit heavier and the conditions are quite different. But it’s not the first time. It happens quite often in Paris.
“I just needed the time to kind of get myself engaged, used to the new tournament. The second and third sets were really good. I thought I found my rhythm. The first set was up and down. But I’ll take the positives out of it, and I’m hoping that I can progress as the tournament goes on.”
Djokovic was a match away from capturing the Roland Garros title in the past two years, falling to Rafael Nadal in 2014 and to Wawrinka in 2015.
“It’s not the first time this year that I’m experiencing such anticipation and expectations. As a matter of fact, I think it’s been three years in a row that I’ve found myself in a very similar situation, where I’m approaching this tournament as one of the favourites,” Djokovic said. “Obviously people wonder if this is the year or not, and I wonder myself.
“But it depends on me how I’m going to use this emotion. So I try to use it as a motivation to inspire myself, to play well, to stay calm and focus only on the present moment.”