{"id":1945184,"date":"2026-05-20T10:17:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T07:17:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1945184"},"modified":"2026-05-20T10:17:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T07:17:20","slug":"it-is-frustrating-novak-djokovic-pinpoints-what-he-is-missing-ahead-of-french-open-title-bid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1945184","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;It is frustrating&#8217; &#8211; Novak Djokovic pinpoints what he is missing ahead of French Open title bid"},"content":{"rendered":"<article class=\"ps-article-content rounded-lg lg:mt-5 lg:border lg:border-card lg:bg-card lg:shadow-primary\">\n<header>\n<h1 class=\"py-4 text-xl font-normal text-title sm:text-2xl\">\u2018It is frustrating\u2019 \u2013 Novak Djokovic pinpoints what he is missing ahead of French Open title bid<\/h1>\n<div class=\"my-2 flex items-center justify-between\">\n<div class=\"flex items-center\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/author\/tennis365\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Tennis365                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"20 May 2026 11:17 AM\" data-ps-date=\"20 May 2026 11:17 AM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1779272240\"><br \/>\n                            20 May 2026 11:17 AM                        <\/time>\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"hidden justify-end space-x-4 text-xl sm:flex sm:!opacity-100\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" 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<\/div>\n<div class=\"sm:hidden flex items-center space-x-5\">\n                        <a href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 hidden dark:block h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_dark.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"mx-auto !my-0 dark:hidden h-6\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/content\/themes\/tennis365-sportsui\/img\/png\/preferred_source_badge_light.png\" alt=\"Add as a preferred source on Google\" width=\"76\" height=\"24\"><br \/>\n                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <button id=\"t365-article-share-btn-hidden\" class=\"mr-2 hidden h-6 w-6 appearance-none border-none !text-share-icon outline-none hover:!text-share-icon-active sm:hidden\" data-title=\"\u2018It is frustrating\u2019 \u2013 Novak Djokovic pinpoints what he is missing ahead of French Open title bid\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/button>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5 border-b border-page\"><\/div>\n<section>\n<div class=\"-mx-3 sm:-mx-5\">\n<figure class=\"aspect-h-9 aspect-w-16 relative\">\n                                        <img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1320\" height=\"742\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"w-full h-full object-cover object-center !my-0\" src=\"https:\/\/images.ps-aws.com\/c?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Fcontent%2Fuploads%2F2025%2F06%2FDjokovic-French-Open-2025-R4-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Pictured: Novak Djokovic hits a backhand\">                <\/figure><figcaption class=\"flex items-center space-x-3 border-b border-mobile-caption px-3 lg:border-caption\">\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"my-1.5 break-words !text-xs !text-content\">\n                                Novak Djokovic in action.                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Novak Djokovic has downplayed his chances of success at the French Open after admitting he continues to deal with physical issues heading into Grand Slams.<\/p>\n<p>The soon-to-be 39-year-old has acknowledged that this preparation for Roland Garros has been far from ideal, with the Serbian playing just three tournaments all season.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Djokovic<\/a> made it to the final of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/australian-open\">Australian Open<\/a>, beating Jannik Sinner in a thrilling five-setter in the semi-finals, before losing to eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz.<\/p>\n<p>After winning two matches at Indian Wells in March, the 24-time major winner has played just once on the clay, losing to Dino Prizmic in his Rome opener.<\/p>\n<p>Heading into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/french-open\">French Open<\/a>, Djokovic\u2019s chances of winning a fourth title in Paris have been given a boost following defending champion <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/carlos-alcaraz\">Alcaraz<\/a>\u2018s injury withdrawal. But he himself has highlighted a litany of personal problems ahead of the tournament.<\/p>\n<h2>More Novak Djokovic news<\/h2>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/french-open\/french-open-novak-djokovic-warned-lose-anyone-former-world-no-2\">French Open: Novak Djokovic told he \u2018could lose to anyone\u2019 by former world No 2<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-features\/novak-djokovic-has-a-clear-decision-he-must-make-following-carlos-alcarazs-wimbledon-withdrawal\">Wimbledon: Should Novak Djokovic skip French Open after latest Carlos Alcaraz news?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Want more from Tennis365? Add us as<span>\u00a0<\/span><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=tennis365.com\" target=\"_blank\">a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a><span>\u00a0<\/span>for tennis coverage you can trust.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Djokovic said that he is half a step slower these days, which is not surprising as he is knocking on the door of 40 in an ultra physical sport.<\/p>\n<p>His lack of matches is a concern, as is the fact that his body appears to be failing him. But, this is the new normal for the veteran.<\/p>\n<p>He told reporters, \u201cIt is frustrating. At the same time it\u2019s my decision to still perform in that kind of state and conditions. I see what I\u2019m missing. Late half a step. I\u2019m not definitely where I want to be for the highest level and to compete at the highest level, and to be able to get far.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not an ideal preparation, to be honest. I don\u2019t recall the last time I had in the last couple of years a preparation where I didn\u2019t have any kind of physical issues or health issues coming into the tournament. There\u2019s always something. Kind of a new reality that I have to deal with.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI train hard. I train as much as the body allows me to. Then how it turns out on the court, that\u2019s really unpredictable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic will be seeded third in Paris, behind world No 1 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/jannik-sinner\">Sinner<\/a> and second seed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/alexander-zverev\">Alexander Zverev<\/a>. He may fancy his chances in a one-off match against the pair but the hardest part may reaching the semi-finals and final.<\/p>\n<p>One thing is certain, though. Never count Djokovic \u2013 who made the semi-finals last year \u2013 out.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ MORE: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/french-open\/2026-french-open-dates-when-is-the-draw-daily-schedule-sinner-sabalenka-headline-event\">2026 French Open: When will it take place, when is the draw, what is the daily schedule?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2018It is frustrating\u2019 \u2013 Novak Djokovic pinpoints what he is missing ahead of French Open title bid Tennis365 20 May 2026 11:17 AM Novak Djokovic in action. Novak Djokovic has downplayed his chances of success at the French Open after admitting he continues to deal with physical issues heading into Grand Slams. The soon-to-be 39-year-old [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,249],"class_list":["post-1945184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-tennis365-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1945184","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1945184"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1945184\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1945184"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1945184"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1945184"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}