Novak Djokovic eyes French Open success following Carlos Alcaraz withdrawal
Novak Djokovic will look to capitalise on Carlos Alcaraz’s absence at the French Open to challenge Jannik Sinner for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
The 24-time major champion remains a significant threat at Roland Garros despite recent struggles with form and fitness.
Defending the sport’s recent youth movement currently falls solely on Sinner, with Alcaraz ruled out of the entire clay and grass-court seasons due to a troubling wrist injury.
Other rising stars, including Jack Draper and Holger Rune, are also missing from the Parisian dirt.
Physical doubts surround the Serbian veteran
The 38-year-old has endured an uninspiring preparation for the second major of the year.
He suffered a three-set defeat to qualifier Dino Prizmic in Rome during his only clay-court appearance of 2025 so far.
However, the former world number one has a proven track record of finding hidden physical reserves when competing over five sets.
Last season, he recovered from early exits in Monte Carlo and Madrid to reach the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
A prime opportunity for a 25th major
Alcaraz’s untimely injury removes a significant psychological and physical barrier for the Belgrade native.
During the Australian Open in January, he expended immense energy defeating Sinner in a five-set semi-final before falling to the Spaniard in the final.
This summer, contenders will only need to overcome one half of the dominant pair who have claimed the last nine grand slam titles.
With the draw significantly altered, the pursuit of an unprecedented 25th major championship looks increasingly plausible for the sport’s most dogged competitor.
