On Sunday, Novak Djokovic begins the opening day of Roland Garros with a tough start against the French player Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. The Serbian player has set his eyes on the 25th Grand Slam, which could be a fair chance of breaking the record today and getting crowned. Not only this, but also the 39-year-old would have the clarity of becoming the player with the most titles after lifting Coupe des Mousquetaires for the fourth time. He was last titled with Grand Slam during the US Open in 2023, where he had been stopped by the dominance of Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Speaking to Sportstar, the Hindu via reporters, Djokovic claimed, “It’s been a lot of hours spent on the court and trying to perfect the game and the body and enable myself physically and game-wise to be ready for best of five (sets),” Djokovic told reporters Friday of his preparations as he returns from a shoulder issue.
“Let’s see. I don’t know whether that’s going to be the case for the entire tournament, however long that tournament will be for me.
“But Grand Slams have been, and I have said this many times, always the priority list, particularly in the last couple of years… So I can’t wait to get on a court and start competing.”
The Serbian player had a little practice for the tournament after the Italian Open, where he was eliminated at the initial match. But, in terms of Grand Slams, he has a beastly mindset, where he reached the semifinals of the past major tournaments despite his reduced participation in recent years.
Djokovic to face big opponents in the French Open 2026
Novak has always been through tough draws in the French tournament.
In the very beginning, he is set to face the former world number 29 Mpetshi Perricard, who is expected to bring the biggest serves at Roland Garros’ centre court.
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In the second match, Djokovic faces the German player Alexander Zverev, who will be welcoming action on the opening day facing Benjamin Bonzi.
Djokovic, en búsqueda de una sorpresa mayúscula en otro Grand Slam y buscando el 25º sin Alcaraz en el cuadro con este posible camino en París:
R1- Perricard
R2- Royer/Qualy
R3- Fonseca/Prizmic
R4- Ruud/Paul/Sonego
CF- Rublev/De Miñaur/Etcheverry/Mensik
SF-… pic.twitter.com/zRcZoZ9ssI— José Morón (@jmgmoron) May 21, 2026
The other rising stars like Joao Fonseca of Brazil and Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic will be opening their serves at Court Simonne Mathieu.
Mirra Andreeva claims it to be non-tricky against the French players
Russian player Mirra Andreeva will face off against the French player Fiona Ferro on Sunday. This would be the first match of this tournament for the highest-ranked woman.
Speaking to Sportstar, the Hindu via reporters, Andreeva joked, “Of course it’s never tricky to play a French player, especially in Paris.”
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“Because obviously the crowd is gonna support her as much as they can, and that’s totally okay. I mean, I have some experience even from last year when I played quarters, so I pretty much know what to expect.”
The other stories of the Women’s Grand Slam
The Swiss player Belinda Bencic will be opening the tournament on Philippe Chatrier against the Austrian player Sinja Kraus.
Former Grand Slam champions Sofia Kenin, Barbora Krejcikova, and Emma Raducanu begin their French Open campaigns, respectively.
Lilli Tagger of Austria, the 2025 junior champion, will begin her senior draw on court nine against Chinese player Wang Xinyu. Tagger has been in a comparison with the four-time Roland Garros winner Justine Henin for her elegant single-hand backhand.
