Novak Djokovic is cautious about his expectations at the Paris major after his R1 win against French Wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert.
The Serbian revealed that he was enjoying his game at French Open more than any tournament since the Australian Open which was not an easy battle.
Djokovic started his French Open title defense by taking down Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-4 in the opening round of the Roland Garros on Monday. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is competing to win his fourth title in the Paris.
Before the start of the tournament, the 37-year-old stated: “I almost feel a bit embarrassed to say what my expectations are.
“Anything but a title for me is not satisfactory, so it always has been like that. I know it might sound arrogant to a lot of people, but I think I have the career that backs it up.”
The World No. 1 has not been his usual best so far in 2024 and is still hunting for his first title of the 2024 campaign.
After beating World No. 83 Herbert, Djokovic was asked if his performance had led him to change his expectations for the event.
“No, I still stay with it,” Djokovic said. “Monte Carlo, Rome, and Geneva tournaments started really well for me. First matches I played were great. Then second matches, third matches (smiling) was quite different.
“So I don’t want to get too excited. I thought it was a good performance from me, solid. Of course I could have done better I think on the return games, but also credit to him for serving very well.”
The Serbian also asserted that Grand Slams are a real source of motivation for his career as he addressed if he is currently enjoying is game.
“Honestly, [I’m enjoying] here much more than basically any other tournament this year that I played except Australia, you know,” he explained.
“Even Australia was kind of, a sense of a bit of an uphill battle in terms of how I was feeling on the court. Again, this is only one match here. So we have to see, see how I progress in the tournament, how the feeling evolves, but it was good.
“You know, I was fist pumping, I was focused, I was there, I was present. So I’m pleased with the way at least I behaved or had a mindset on the court. That was something that I was looking for. And where are you going to feel that way if not in Grand Slams?
“It’s something that I have been saying from the beginning of the year and from the last whatever years, that Grand Slams are the ones that are basically getting me up from the bed every day and knowing that I have to hit the practice courts.
“I always think about what I can do in Grand Slams. Here I am and hopefully I can have another deep run.”