What Does Novak Djokovic Need More Before the French Open: Momentum or Rest?

Novak Djokovic’s ambition to win the French Open faces a new spin on an old dilemma. The world No. 1 conquered his biggest objectives on hard courts by winning titles at Melbourne, Indian Wells and Miami in 2016, but the blueprint for his clay-court priorities are not so simple.

While nine-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal is building momentum by winning Monte Carlo and competing to regain another crown in Barcelona, Djokovic will have played one match in April—a second-round upset at the hands of Jiri Vesely.

Clearly, this was not in the Serb’s calculated plan for cleaning up the Masters 1000 titles and finally winning the French Open title he has desperately craved. 

Is five weeks and 17 matches from May to early June the ideal way for Djokovic to tune up his game, win the French Open and clinch an immortal legacy?

5 Mixed Years of Varying Success (2011-15)

It only takes one paragraph to explain Nadal’s formula for clay-court mastery from 2005-14. He showed up to conquer Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome and Roland Garros. Each of those 10 years saw him win a combination of at least two of those titles. He knew how to prepare and dominate on clay, and there was no second-guessing his maniacal approach to sweeping up red clay on planet Earth.

Djokovic has been far more ambivalent about how to attack the clay-court season.

His ascension as a tennis legend truly began in 2011, when he put together a 41-match winning streak into the French Open semifinals before getting “upset” by a late-prime version of Roger Federer. Yet, each year has subsequently brought a new story of great results and bitter conclusions at Roland Garros.

2011: doesn’t play Monte Carlo; defeats Nadal for Madrid and Rome titles; loses to Federer in French Open semifinals. 2012: loses Monte Carlo, Rome and French Open to Nadal; ousted early on Madrid’s infamous blue clay. 2013: ankle sprain from Davis Cup competition prior to Monte Carlo but …

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