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Former player Patrick McEnroe reckons Rafael Nadal is the favorite for Roland Garros, but he's tipping Novak Djokovic to go back-to-back at the claycourt Major.
Nadal has had a stellar season, winning 23 of 26 matches, but two of his three defeats have come on European clay. The Spaniard was beaten by eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in the Madrid quarterfinals before he was dumped out by Denis Shapovalov in the Rome third round.
Djokovic, by contrast, has played himself into serious form ahead of Roland Garros. After losing to Alcaraz in a third-set tie-break in the Madrid semifinals, the World No. 1 produced an imperious campaign in Rome. He won all five matches in straight sets to win his first title of the year and sixth at the Foro Italico.
With the claycourt bandwagon moving to Roland Garros next, McEnroe had no qualms adeclaring 13-time champion Nadal to be the strong favorite despite losing to Djokovic in the semifinals last year.
However, considering the Serb's recent form and Nadal's underwhelming clay campaign, McEnroe said Djokovic could go back-to-back on the Parisian terre battue. On the 'Holding Court with Patrick McEnroe' podcast, McEnroe said that he was leaning towards Djokovic to win Roland Garros despite his loss to Carlos Alcaraz in Madrid.
"Normally I would say Nadal is the favourite. Djokovic got him at the French last year, but I still think he (Nadal)'s the favourite, all things being equal. But, I think, I'm leaning towards Djokovic at the moment despite the fact that Alcaraz got him in Madrid. Altitude there, the ball jumping a little bit more, and Novak's starting to find his range. Right now, I'm going Djokovic as the slight favourite."
Novak Djokovic chasing more history at Roland Garros
Novak Djokovic created history at Roland Garros last year. After becoming the first player to beat Nadal twice in the tournament, he recovered from two sets down against Stefanos Tsitsipas to win his second title at the claycourt Major.
In the process, he became the first player in the Open Era to win the double career Grand Slam, having won his first Roland Garros title six years ago.
A year later, Djokovic will chase more history at the second Grand Slam tournament of the year.
He's looking to draw level with all-time Grand Slam title leader Nadal (21) in Paris. That would make him the first player to win an unprecedented triple career Grand Slam - winning all four Majors at least three times. He has won nine Australian Opens, six Wimbledons and three US Open titles.
If he goes back-to-back at Roland Garros, Djokovic will become the first player not named Nadal in more than 20 years to successfully defend his title in Paris. Gustavo Kuerten was the last player before Nadal to go back-to-back at Roland Garros, winning in 2000-01.
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