Capricious weather, threat posed by the coronavirus epidemic ... Novak Djokovic, the world number one in tennis, admitted Monday, at the microphone of Europe 1, that a second title at Roland Garros, four years old, was going to seek after his first and only victory, was not going to be easy.
INTERVIEW
Eight titles in Australia, five at Wimbledon, three in New York, but only one at Roland Garros.
The French Tournament has not always brought luck to Novak Djokovic.
Exceptional guest in Europe 1 on Monday, the world number 1 should make his debut on clay on Tuesday, against the Swede Mikael Ymer.
And he assures him, four years after having lifted the "Musketeers Cup" for the first time, he does not intend to leave empty-handed this year: "I really hope that I will be able to win the title! I really want to, I am very motivated, "he blurted out at Matthieu Belliard's microphone.
“I dreamed of the Roland Garros title for a long time and losing in the final three times before winning in 2016 was a highlight of my career,” says Novak Djokovic.
"It was one of the best moments I have had on a tennis court."
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A (very) special season
This year, however, it will undoubtedly have to redouble its efforts, as for all the participants, so special is this 2020 vintage.
The tournament, postponed due to the health crisis, is particularly likely to be played under capricious weather conditions.
"We are used to playing in May, June. And here we are almost in October. You know, in Paris it can be very cold during this period, and then I think we expect rain this first week. ", notes the champion.
The absence of the public - the gauge having been lowered from 5,000 to 1,000 spectators with the latest health measures against the Covid-19 - also risks weighing on the atmosphere during the matches.
"I think it will be very different without the many spectators present in the stands, with only 1,000 people per day allowed to come and see us play tennis," admits Novak Djokovic.
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The coronavirus sword of Damocles
But it is still the virus, and the fear of a positive test, synonymous with disqualification, which worries the participants the most.
"I think it would be fairer for a person who tested positive to be isolated for 24 hours, then to be tested a second time and to check if it is a false positive", defends Novak Djokovic.
But he himself claims to be ready to show philosophy if he had to leave Roland-Garros for health reasons (he has already tested positive on August 1).
"If it turns out that my test is not negative ... Well, it will be like that. You have to accept it," he blurted out with a smile.
"It's not going to be easy. It's a big mental challenge for a lot of players, but I hope we will finish the tournament without too many negative consequences because of the virus," he concluded.