{"id":1947489,"date":"2026-05-21T16:27:33","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:27:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1947489"},"modified":"2026-05-21T16:27:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:27:33","slug":"former-no-1-makes-bold-novak-djokovic-french-open-prediction-as-the-serb-looks-for-grand-slam-no-25","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1947489","title":{"rendered":"Former No 1 makes bold Novak Djokovic French Open prediction as the Serb looks for Grand Slam No 25"},"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\">Former No 1 makes bold Novak Djokovic French Open prediction as the Serb looks for Grand Slam No 25<\/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\/oliver-paton\" class=\"text-sm font-normal !text-author\"><br \/>\n                            Oliver Paton                        <\/a><br \/>\n                        <time class=\"ml-3 text-sm font-normal text-info md:ml-4\" datetime=\"21 May 2026 5:27 PM\" data-ps-date=\"21 May 2026 5:27 PM\" data-ps-datetime=\"1779380853\"><br \/>\n                            21 May 2026 5:27 PM                        <\/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 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href=\"https:\/\/share.flipboard.com\/bookmarklet\/popout?v=2&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tennis365.com%2Ftennis-news%2Fformer-no-1-makes-bold-novak-djokovic-french-open-prediction-serb-looks-grand-slam-no-25\" aria-label=\"Share to flipboard\"><\/p>\n<p>                        <\/a>\n                    <\/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=\"Former No 1 makes bold Novak Djokovic French Open prediction as the Serb looks for Grand Slam No 25\"><\/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%2F02%2FHenman-Djokovic-1320x742.jpg\" alt=\"Tim Henman and Novak Djokovic\">                <\/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                                Tim Henman&#8217;s verdict on Novak Djokovic                            <\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<div class=\"ciam-article-t365\"><!-- Article Start --><\/p>\n<p>Tim Henman has weighed in on Novak Djokovic\u2019s chances of winning the upcoming French Open, insisting the Serb will \u2018always back himself\u2019 at Grand Slam tournaments despite doubts over his clay-court prospects.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tag\/novak-djokovic\">Djokovic<\/a> has endured a mixed 2026 season after stunning Jannik Sinner to reach the Australian Open final at the start of the year.<\/p>\n<p>Following that run in Melbourne, the 24-time Grand Slam champion reached the fourth round of Indian Wells before losing to Jack Draper in three sets.<\/p>\n<p>Shortly afterwards, Djokovic withdrew from tournaments in Miami, Monte Carlo, and Madrid due to a lingering shoulder issue that had troubled him for several months, dating back to last year\u2019s US Open.<\/p>\n<p>The former world No 1 eventually returned at the Italian Open, though his comeback ended in disappointment with a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 defeat to Croatian youngster Dino Prizmic in his opening match.<\/p>\n<p>While some expected Djokovic to play an additional event in the week before Roland Garros \u2013 as he did last season \u2013 the Serbian instead opted to continue resting ahead of the year\u2019s second Grand Slam.<\/p>\n<p>Djokovic currently sits on 24 major singles titles, level with Margaret Court for the all-time record, meaning another triumph would see him stand alone in tennis history.<\/p>\n<p>His most recent Grand Slam success came at the 2023 US Open, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t see it coming on clay,\u201d Henman told TNT Sports when discussing the possibility of Djokovic claiming a 25th major title. The Serbian turns 39 on Friday.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think Djokovic no doubt has a chance at Wimbledon because the physical demands on grass are less than on clay.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo, for me, at Djokovic\u2019s age, for him to win seven best-of-five-set matches on clay at Roland Garros, I find that hard to believe.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhereas on grass, given his pedigree, and the fact there are fewer players comfortable on grass, I definitely would give him a shot at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe made the semi-finals last year. He was in the final of the Australian Open, so he\u2019s always going to back himself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIs Roland Garros good preparation for Wimbledon? Maybe from a fitness and match-play point of view, but he knows his way around every surface and every tournament, so he\u2019s not going to Roland Garros just to make up the numbers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe obviously believes he can have a deep run but, if I were going to bet on where he has the better chance, for me it\u2019s Wimbledon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Last season, Djokovic reached the semi-finals at both the French Open and Wimbledon, losing to Sinner on both occasions.<\/p>\n<p>This edition, the Serb will open up his campaign against big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, whilst Sinner lies in the other half of the draw.<\/p>\n<h2>Latest Tennis News<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/tennis-news\/mens-french-open-draw-djokovic-fonseca-hurdle-sinner-zverev-headline-draw\">French Open 2026 men\u2019s draw: Djokovic handed early hurdles, whilst Sinner &amp; Zverev headline<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tennis365.com\/atp-tour\/rafael-nadal-atp-stars-challenge-carlos-alcaraz-jannik-sinner-dominance-good-sport\">Rafael Nadal wants ATP stars to challenge Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner dominance \u2018for good of the sport\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sinner heads into the French Open on a 29-match winning streak after capturing all five Masters 1000 titles contested in 2026, including all three clay-court events \u2013 a feat last achieved by Rafael Nadal in 2010.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian\u2019s chances in Paris were further strengthened after world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz withdrew from the tournament due to a wrist injury.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf it\u2019s Sinner against the field, and you give me the choice of Sinner or the other 127 players, I\u2019ll take Sinner every day of the week,\u201d Henman added.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe\u2019s playing that well and he\u2019s that confident.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the only thing that could stop him physically is injury or illness.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn best-of-five-set matches, could somebody take a set off him? Yes. Could they win two? Probably unlikely. Could they win three? I just don\u2019t see it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI haven\u2019t seen such a clear favourite at the French Open since Rafa [Nadal].<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt would take a brave person to bet against him at Roland Garros.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nadal famously won the French Open 14 times and compiled a remarkable 112-4 record at the Paris major across his career.<\/p>\n<p>The French Open takes place from May 24 to June 7.<\/p>\n<p><!-- Article End --><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former No 1 makes bold Novak Djokovic French Open prediction as the Serb looks for Grand Slam No 25 Oliver Paton 21 May 2026 5:27 PM Tim Henman&#8217;s verdict on Novak Djokovic Tim Henman has weighed in on Novak Djokovic\u2019s chances of winning the upcoming French Open, insisting the Serb will \u2018always back himself\u2019 at [&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-1947489","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\/1947489","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=1947489"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1947489\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1947489"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1947489"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1947489"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}