Novak Djokovic's projected path to 2024 French Open final

Novak Djokovic is set to start his title defence at the French Open against Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

ATP World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will have a lot on the line when he starts his campaign at the 2024 French Open as the defending champion. The Serb has always been a big-game player; he knows how to resist the pressure and perform relentlessly despite loud boos and jeers.

Novak Djokovic, who has won the most singles Grand Slam titles in the sport’s history, has failed to win a title so far in 2024. The Serb initially failed to defend his title at the Australian Open, losing to Jannik Sinner in the semifinals. Later, he was eliminated in the Monte Carlo Masters by Casper Ruud, while Alejandro Tabilo stunned Djokovic in the third round of the Italian Open.

He also played at the 250 Geneva Open as a warm-up ahead of the French Open. However, his campaign came to an abrupt stop after Tomas Machac defeated him 6-4, 0-6, 6-1. Novak Djokovic’s recent form has been a bit concerning for tennis fans.

The bottle drop on his head during the Italian Open has also affected the Serb’s performance dramatically. However, the 37-year-old has created numerous spectacles in his career. Thus, without further ado, let’s take a look at Novak Djokovic’s projected path at the 2024 French Open final:

First round: Pierre-Hugues Herbert

Novak Djokovic will commence his 2024 Roland Garros campaign against France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert. The Frenchman is currently ranked 143, as he has majorly played at ATP Challenger tournaments in 2024. Moreover, he received a wildcard in the main draw of the clay-court major.

Interestingly, the two have faced each other once on the ATP tour. Their only meeting took place during the 2013 Paris Masters, where Djokovic recorded a comfortable win in straight sets. Thus, the Serbian tennis star is likely to advance to the second round.

Also Read: French Open 2024: Updated schedule, fixtures, results, live streaming details

Second Round: Roberto Carballes Baena

Roberto Carballes Baena and Djokovic have faced each other twice and both their meeting have taken place in the first round of a hardcourt Grand Slam. At the 2019 Australian Open, Djokovic defeated Carballes Baena in straight sets (6-4, 6-1, 6-4). They again faced off four years apart at the US Open; but, the results stood the same.

Third Round: Thiago Seyboth Wild

Last year in the French Open, Thiago Seyboth Wild defeated Daniil Medvedev in the first round, causing a huge upset. Interestingly, the Brazilian has never faced Djokovic on the tour. As a result, their contest is set to be a worthy contest if they face each other in the third round.

This year, he has recorded wins over the likes of Taylor Fritz, Karen Khachanov, Lorenzo Musetti and more. Thus, if Seyboth Wild manages to stay calm and maintain composure, he’ll find a way into the third round at least.

Fourth Round: Tommy Paul

Tommy Paul has never managed to win two matches in a single campaign at Roland Garros. The 27-year-old’s best finish at the claycourt Grand Slam has been the second round.

However, his impressive run in Rome with wins over Daniil Medvedev and Hubert Hurkcaz has made him a contender in the race. In addition to that, Tommy Paul will be keen on taking revenge over Novak Djokovic for the 2023 Australian Open semifinal.

Quarterfinals: Casper Ruud or Casper Ruud

Two-time Roland Garros runner-up Casper Ruud won his first ATP 500 title earlier this year in Barcelona. However, since then, he has been slightly out of form. Interestingly, the Norwegian defeated Novak Djokovic in the semi-final of the Monte Carlo Masters in April.

It was Ruud’s first win over Novak Djokovic in their six meetings. However, they also faced each other at the 2023 French Open final, where Ruud lost in straight sets. Meanwhile, Taylor Fritz is an unlikely candidate to ace at clay; however, the American tennis star has shown his diverse skill set in the recent few months.

Semifinals: Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev will be starting his French Open campaign against the most successful player in the competition’s history, Rafael Nadal. However, he’s the man in form and if he manages to reach the semifinals, he could face the Serbian wizard.

Zverev is already a three-time Roland Garros semifinalist and he has managed to stay consistent. From Grand Slams to the Olympics, the two tennis stars have faced each other at several competitions and in front of different crowds.

However, Djokovic leads the tally in head to head record with eight wins, compared to the German tennis player’s four. Nevertheless, with his astounding performance in Rome, Zverev is set to give Djokovic a tough challenge.

Final: Jannik Sinner or Carlos Alcaraz

Novak Djokovic can find himself facing Jannik Sinner at the 2024 French Open final. In their last four meetings, the Italian tennis star has managed to win three times. However, all his victories have been on hard courts. Thus, with a change of surface, circumstances will also change.

Meanwhile, Djokovic can also face his last year’s semifinal opponent, Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard suffered from cramps during their last meeting at Stade Roland Garros. However, this time, he will come prepared. Alcaraz will be targeting his first clay court Grand Slam, and defeating the ATP World No. 1 in the pursuit will be a cherry on top.

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