Serb Novak Djokovic, world No. 1 tennis player, admitted that his deportation and withdrawal from the Australian Open earlier this year because he did not receive a Covid-19 vaccine would boost his enthusiasm when he will defend himself. his French Open title in his quest for the 21st major title of his professional career and to tie the record for most Grand Slam titles.

Djokovic won the second title of his professional career at Roland Garros last year, followed by a sixth at Wimbledon, equaling the previous Grand Slam record shared by Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Switzerland’s Roger Federer before being torn apart by Al Matador partnership. at the beginning of this year, having crowned him in Australia, the favorite of the championship. I have a Serb.

“This is something I have never experienced before,” said Djokovic, who turns 35 on Sunday, the opening day of the French Open.

“The pressure and everything I felt in the first few months of this year, as much pressure as I have felt in my life and my professional career, it was something on a completely different level.”

Djokovic, who faces Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, is world No. 94, has only played five tournaments in the first round in 2022, but arrives in Paris with his sixth 1,000-point Rome Masters title, becoming the fifth player to win 1,000 points . matches in his professional career.

He held the title in the Italian capital, 38th in the Masters Tournament with 1,000 points, which propelled him to the top of the list of the best historical Masters tournament winners by two titles ahead of Nadal.

He went undefeated in Rome as he capped off an unforgettable week with a victory over Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas who beat the Serb in straight sets to win in three sets to win the 2021 Roland Garros title.

“Looking at how I’ve played in recent weeks, I’m going to be one of the favorites to win (at Roland Garros). I’m going there with the biggest ambitions,” Joko added.

As Nadal, who holds the record for most Grand Slam titles (21) and Roland Garros (13 titles), suffers from a chronic foot injury, his up-and-coming compatriot Carlos Alcaraz is likely to become Djokovic’s archrival in Paris.

Alcaraz, who is only 19 years old, has risen quickly this year to sixth in the ATP rankings with four titles, including three on clay.

He took his second title at the Masters Tournament in Madrid, beating Nadal in the quarterfinals, Djokovic in the semifinals and German Alexander Zverev, world number three, in the final.

In the first round, Alcaraz will face Argentine Juan Ignacio Londero, ranked 141st in the world, who in 2019 reached 16th place.

Djokovic described the up-and-coming Spanish star, who won his first Masters title in Miami earlier this year, as “definitely exceptional.”

“I’m a player living with injury,” said Nadal, who is now ranked fifth in the world. “This is nothing new.”

Rafa suffers from necrosis of the navicular bone of the foot (Müller-Weiss syndrome). In early May, he said it was a “chronic and incurable” degenerative disease.

“Things have gotten more complicated,” admitted Nadal, who will face Australian Jordan Thompson in the first round but remains determined to fight Roland Garros, where his doctor escorted him to his second home. “I don’t know what will happen in the next round.” . coming days.”

But “I won’t stop believing or fighting to give myself a chance. I will approach the matter in the best possible way, even if the probability of success in Paris is low, I must be mentally prepared for this.

Nadal followed the same path as defending champion Djokovic and his compatriot Alcaraz.

Nadal could face Djokovic in the quarter-finals and Alcaraz in the semi-finals.

At Roland Garros, he failed to win his first four matches before reaching the quarter-finals last year.