The Big Four At Roland Garros – Novak Djokovic
The draw for the 2015 French Open was made on Friday and it certainly threw up some interesting match-ups and conversation points for the fans.
While Rafael Nadal has fallen outside of the world’s top four for the seeding of this tournament, he is still certainly one of the main candidates to lift the trophy on the 7th of June, given his history in this competition and his overall pedigree on clay.
Therefore, the “Big Four” are still a force to be reckoned with and the main contenders every time a Grand Slam comes around, but how are they shaping up coming into Roland Garros this year?
Here we shall look at current world number one Novak Djokovic and his chances of claiming his first Slam triumph on the red dirt.
How’s His Form?
In short, impeccable. Looking for his first French Open crown, Djokovic arrives in Paris as the red-hot favourite for the first time in his career.
That is a title the Serb fully warrants as well as he has amassed a record of 22 consecutive victories on the bounce going into the second major of the season, claiming two Masters 1000 titles along the way.
Monte Carlo was claimed via victories over Rafael Nadal in two straightforward sets, while Tomas Berdych was seen off in three sets in the final.
After a rest during Madrid, the world number one returned in style in Rome, taking out Roger Federer in the final in a comfortable straight sets victory.
Arguably playing the best tennis of his life, this could be the year where Djokovic cements his place as one of the all-time greats by dethroning the King of Clay, who is struggling for form and confidence at exactly the wrong time.
Previous Record At Roland Garros
Much like Roger Federer before him, Djokovic’s quest to complete the full list of Grand Slams has been thwarted by the sizeable presence of Rafael Nadal standing in his way.
The Serbian has been downed by his rival six times out of six in the French capital, with a quarter-final, three semi-finals and two finals all in the list of defeats he has suffered at the hands of the Spaniard at his favourite tournament.
However, while the first couple of meetings were straightforward wins for Nadal, the recent signs are good for Djokovic as he was desperately close to defeating him in the 2013 last four match and led the nine-time winner by a set in last year’s final.
With Nadal well out of sorts at present and with Djokovic sweeping away everyone in his path, this could be the year for the world number one to complete his long-awaited career Slam.
How’s His Draw?
Up until the quarter-final you can’t really see anyone who could cause Djokovic any serious trouble, with Bernard Tomic, Richard Gasquet and Kevin Anderson the biggest names that he could face.
However, come the quarter-finals, Djokovic will face a very familiar foe. Rafael Nadal lies in wait if the Serb is to get to the last four and should he make the most of the Spaniard’s current troubles and defeat him for just the second time in Roland Garros history, the world number one will then potentially face the in-form Andy Murray in the semi-finals.
Should those two very tricky ties be negotiated, the seedings suggest Djokovic will come face to face with the greatest of all time in Roger Federer – a man who knows what it takes in the final of a Grand Slam.
An easy enough start and a troublesome end – Djokovic will want to waste no time in getting his eye in early on in Paris with the hurdles that lie in wait in the latter stages.
What Are His Chances?
Make no mistake about it, Novak Djokovic is the favourite to be crowned 2015 French Open champion in just over a fortnight.
Rafael Nadal may well be looking for a quite ludicrous record of ten titles in eleven years, but the difference in form and momentum between the two means it is the world number one who comes in as the big favourite.
Will that pressure affect his mentality? We will just have to wait and see what Roland Garros throws up over the next two weeks – bring it on.