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World primary Novak Djokovic is wanting ahead to a closing showdown with the 14-time French Open champion at Roland Garros.
Rafael Nadal's withdrawal from the Monte Carlo Masters has forged doubt over the 22-time Grand Slam champion's participation on the French Open, however Novak Djokovic stated he’s nonetheless wanting ahead to the ultimate chapter of their outdated rivalry.
The 37-year-old Spaniard, who has stated he hopes to retire after the 2024 season, returned to competitors in Brisbane in January after lacking virtually a yr attributable to a hip flexor harm, however has not performed an ATP occasion since. Have performed.
“As a tennis fan I need him to play no less than another event earlier than he retires,” world primary Djokovic informed Eurosport in an interview printed on Saturday.
“Everyone knows what he has executed on clay in his profession, particularly at Roland Garros.
“That is his aim, everyone knows this, he has been saying this. For the sake of tennis as an entire and particularly Roland Garros, we hope he can play there. It might be nice to have one other nice encounter.”
Djokovic will start his quest for a 3rd title in Monte Carlo on Tuesday with out coach Goran Ivanisevic in his field, after ending his vastly profitable partnership with the Croatian final month.
The Serbian participant has been working with former doubles world primary Nenad Zimonjic in latest weeks.
“We’ve recognized one another properly for greater than 20 years. He has all the time been like an elder brother to me. A mentor, a good friend, who all the time tried to assist me as an individual and as a participant,” Djokovic stated.
“After I stopped by Goran, I used to be beginning my clay-court preparations in Belgrade and he was there. He got here to the court docket, and we actually loved our collaboration, and I requested him to return right here for a couple of weeks.
“We try to profit from it. He's giving me actually helpful recommendation on discovering the correct place after I'm coming to the online, and that's one thing I'm not the perfect at as a result of I don't play that many doubles matches.