Novak Djokovic has decided to "lay his cards on the table" ahead of Roland Garros, but the news from his camp is far from encouraging. The Serbian ace has openly admitted that he is struggling with physical problems and that his expectations in Paris, for the first time in a long while, have been significantly lowered.

Although Djokovic is approaching his 39th birthday, the harsh reality of top-tier sports is taking its toll. Preparation for his second Grand Slam of the season has been far from ideal, given that he has played only three tournaments this year. After reaching the final at the Australian Open (where he defeated Jannik Sinner in a thrilling match before losing to Carlos Alcaraz), he took a long break and played just one match before Paris – the one in Rome, where he was defeated by Denis Kojic.

In an interview with the media, Djokovic highlighted that he is feeling the effects of years and a strenuous rhythm, acknowledging that he is not as fast as we have been accustomed to seeing him.

- Frustrating. At the same time, my decision is to keep playing under these conditions and circumstances. I see what I lack, I lag half a step behind. I am definitely not where I need to be to compete at the highest level and have the stamina to last long. - Djokovic was candid.

He added that such situations are recurring:

- To be honest, this is not an ideal preparation. I don't remember when the last time was in the past few years that I had a preparation without any physical or health issues before a tournament. Something always happens. That's a new reality I have to deal with.

Though the 24-time Grand Slam champion is known for his ironclad regimen, he now has to listen to the signals his body sends.

- I train intensely. I train as much as my body allows. And how it all will play out on the court is really unpredictable. - Djokovic stated.

Djokovic will be seeded third at Roland Garros, behind Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev. While his draw is somewhat eased by the absence of defending champion Carlos Alcaraz due to injury, it is clear that Djokovic's greatest challenge will be himself.

(Telegraf.rs)