World number one Novak Djokovic is hoping to have some matches at the Geneva Open before his title defence at Roland Garros, following his recovery from a bizarre injury this month.
Djokovic has faced challenges this season and is yet to secure a tournament win in 2024. His preparations for the French Open have been less than ideal, starting with a loss to Casper Ruud in the semi-finals in Monte Carlo. Subsequently, he chose to skip the Madrid Open and then suffered a third-round defeat in the Italian Open, just days after being hit on the head by a fan's water bottle while signing autographs.
The Serbian player acknowledged feeling off his game during his 6-2 6-3 loss to Alejandro Tabilo and assured reporters on Tuesday that he is in good health and feeling fine after training for over a week. Djokovic has been dedicated to working with his new fitness coach to enhance his endurance, physical strength, and overall capabilities, all of which are crucial for performing at his best in a physically demanding clay surface Grand Slam.
His primary goal for competing in Geneva is to get more than one match, hoping to regain his form before heading to Paris. Djokovic's first opponent in Geneva will be Germany's Yannick Hanfmann, who had previously defeated three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray in the tournament.
Djokovic explained his decision to participate in the Geneva Open, stating that he believes match play is the best practice for him at the moment. He expressed the need for more matches, as even one, two, three, or four matches can significantly contribute to finding the form required for Roland Garros.
