Novak Djokovic is right where he wants to be after a slow start to his clay-court season.
Back at the Italian Open 바카라 the clay event where he바카라s had his most success. The top-ranked Serb is a six-time champion in Rome and six-time runner-up.
바카라Historically throughout my career, Rome has always been a very nice tournament for me,바카라 Djokovic said Thursday. 바카라Hopefully it can serve, again, as a great, great springboard for me to what바카라s coming up in Paris where I want to play my best.바카라
The French Open, the clay-court Grand Slam, starts at the end of the month, and Djokovic is hoping to add a third title at Roland Garros after his victories in 2016 and 2021.
Djokovic is returning after three weeks off due to a lingering issue with his surgically repaired right elbow.
In his previous two tournaments on red clay, Djokovic had consecutive early exits.
He lost in the round of 16 at Monte Carlo to Lorenzo Musetti. Then Dusan Lajovic beat him in the quarterfinals of the Srpska Open in Bosnia and Herzegovina, dealing him his first loss to a countryman in 11 years.
바카라It바카라s all good,바카라 Djokovic said of his elbow. 바카라I mean, there바카라s always some things here and there that bother you on this level. It바카라s normal.
바카라Also when you바카라re not 25 anymore, I guess you experience that a bit more than what used to be the case,바카라 added Djokovic, who will turn 36 the day after this tournament ends. 바카라It takes a little bit more time to recover.바카라
Djokovic, who won the Australian Open at the start of the year, is clearly aiming to peak around the Grand Slams.
After a first-round bye, he바카라ll open with a night match Friday against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, an Argentine who reached clay finals in Santiago, Chile, and Houston earlier this year.
No matter his results at the Foro Italico, Djokovic will cede the No. 1 ranking back to Carlos Alcaraz after this tournament.
Alcaraz, who is making his Rome debut, is seeded second and in the opposite side of the draw from Djokovic.
While they have been trading the top spot back and forth, it바카라s the first time this year that both Djokovic and Alcaraz have entered the same tournament.
Alcaraz missed the Australian Open due to injury and Djokovic missed the Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells, California, and Miami, because he was prevented from entering the United States since he is not vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Then Djokovic missed the Madrid Open because of his elbow. Alcaraz won the tournament on Sunday.
바카라It is strange that we haven바카라t been in the same draw since the beginning of the season. Due to the circumstances on both sides, that didn바카라t happen,바카라 Djokovic said. 바카라He바카라s been playing some very impressive tennis, a great level. He바카라s the player to beat on this surface, no doubt.
바카라Of course, it depends if (Rafael) Nadal is going to play in (the) French Open or not. But Alcaraz is one of the top favorites without any dilemma.바카라
Nadal, who holds the record of 10 titles in Rome, is not playing as he remains hampered by a nagging hip injury, leaving his status for Roland Garros in question.
