Djokovic chases record 25th Grand Slam amid shaky French Open buildup

Novak Djokovic arrived at Roland Garros chasing a record 25th Grand Slam title, but the run-up to Paris exposed how fragile that pursuit had become at age 38. The 24-time major champion had played sparingly since losing to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in February, and a shoulder issue further limited the sharpness he usually depends on to survive two weeks on clay.

The warning signs mounted on the dirt. Djokovic lost to Croatian qualifier Dino Prižmić at the Italian Open in Rome on May 8, a defeat that cut into the confidence he normally carries into Paris. He then skipped his Geneva title defense in the final week before the French Open, leaving him with limited clay-court preparation for the season’s second Grand Slam. Ahead of Paris, Djokovic said his preparation was “not ideal,” a blunt assessment from a player whose standard has long been built on repetition, rhythm and relentless court coverage.

That matters at Roland Garros more than almost anywhere else. Clay rewards patience and endurance, and the demands of best-of-five-set tennis can punish even the smallest physical lapse. Djokovic has built his career on stretching matches, reading opponents early and conserving energy between pressure points, but the present challenge is less about his record than his ability to withstand younger, more explosive rivals without enough recent match play to support him.

The historical stakes are enormous. The ATP Tour lists Djokovic as a three-time Roland Garros champion, and he entered Paris with 24 Grand Slam singles titles, one shy of the men’s record he has spent years pursuing. Roland Garros became a Grand Slam event in 1925, which adds another layer to a bid that would place Djokovic alone at the top of men’s tennis history on one of its most demanding stages.

The 2026 draw only sharpened the intrigue. Jannik Sinner and Djokovic were placed in opposite halves, keeping open the possibility of a final that would carry record-setting implications. Djokovic still has the pedigree to turn a difficult build-up into a title run, but the path to a 25th major now depends on whether his shoulder holds, whether his legs recover from a disrupted spring, and whether his game can quickly catch up to the pressure of Paris.