World number one Novak Djokovic expressed confidence in his abilities to reach peak form for the French Open and plans to demonstrate his preparation at the Italian Open, which begins on Wednesday. Djokovic spoke at a news conference in Rome, emphasizing his focus on forthcoming events such as the French Open, Wimbledon, and the Olympics. He explained the strategic reasons behind his choice to skip the recent Madrid event, prioritizing his preparation for the upcoming major tournaments.

The Serbian star, who will turn 35 on May 22, just before the French Open begins on May 26, indicated a desire to improve his recent performance at the Monte Carlo Masters. Djokovic, who lost in the semi-finals against Casper Ruud, hopes to improve his game and create an impression in future tournaments, beginning with the Italian Open. The plan was to come here. That’s it. I’m on a good route to peak at Roland Garros in Paris. Hopefully, here in Rome, I can play better than I did in Monte Carlo. The wish, obviously, is always to go far, but let’s see, Djokovic said at the press conference.

As the top seed in the Italian Open, Djokovic, a six-time champion, received a first-round bye. Djokovic stated that the event’s growth to nearly two weeks influenced scheduling decisions, giving players more time to prepare and participate. It’s a new concept, with Rome and Madrid becoming nearly two-week events, similar to Indian Wells and Miami. It gives you more time to recover between matches if you keep going in the tournament, which I think is useful for me, he added.

Continuing his efforts to improve his staff, Djokovic has rehired former physio Miljan Amanovic for “certain weeks” this season. Amanovic previously worked with Djokovic from 2007 to 2017, returning to his squad from 2018 to 2022. In recent months, Djokovic has made significant personnel changes, parting ways with coach Goran Ivanisevic and his publicity team as part of his ongoing reorganization efforts.

I’m a proponent of having a quality team and entourage around you, having people who are experts in their field, who have experience, who have knowledge, and who also understand psychology as well. They know how to emotionally approach you when you need help or when you need space, Djokovic stated.
You spend a lot of time on the tour together. You see them much more than you see your family, especially when you’re younger when you’re traveling every single week of the year, the Serbian concluded.