“Djokovic dreams of 25 slams and comments on Alcaraz’s absence.”

On the day he celebrates his 39th birthday, [Novak Djokovic](https://apitofinal.pt/modalidades/tenis/rafael-nadal-pede-rivais-fortes-para-desafiar-alcaraz-e-sinner/) appears more determined than ever, ready to push his own limits and pursue a historic achievement: winning his 25th Grand Slam title. However, the path has been anything but easy. The Serbian tennis player’s body has affected his participation in competitions over the past few months, forcing him into a lengthy recovery process that nearly kept him off the courts entirely.

In a press conference, Djokovic revealed the physical struggles he faced: “It was an act of God. I would have liked to have played more, but my body did not allow me. I went through a rehabilitation process after an injury, and after the Indian Wells Masters 1000, I was unable to compete for several months. I played in Rome to test myself. I dedicated many hours on the court trying to perfect my game and prepare my body, both physically and technically, to withstand the effort of five-set matches.”

The Belgrade tennis player does not hide his doubts about his current physical condition: “I don’t know if this will be enough to face the whole tournament. Grand Slams are my top priority, especially in recent years. I always try to reach my best level to perform well in these events. I have a strong desire to compete and to get on court.” Regarding his participation in Rome, he admitted: “I was far from being ready, but I needed to play at least one match to feel the pressure of competition again before Paris. My presence at Roland Garros was seriously in doubt, but fortunately, my body responded well. Here I am, we’ll see what happens.”

Regarding the absence of young prodigy Carlos Alcaraz, who is out due to a wrist injury, Djokovic remains calm and does not believe it will significantly alter his chances of victory. “I haven’t thought about it. I feel that if I am physically well and can maintain a consistent level throughout the tournament, I will always have opportunities. Of course, I may not have the same freshness until the end, but if I can stay in good shape and progress, I believe I always have a great chance. I have already demonstrated that this year in Australia, where I was close to winning another Grand Slam. I always have that conviction when I step onto the court.”

In a moment filled with respect and admiration, Djokovic dedicated heartfelt words to Jannik Sinner, the young Italian who has been surprising the tennis world with historic achievements. “I want to congratulate Jannik again. I’ve done it on social media, but I’ll say it again: it’s an incredible result for him and his team. We’ve talked many times about how impressive he is on all surfaces. Perhaps some doubted that he could be as dominant on clay as he is on hard courts, but he has proven that he can. Being one of only two players in history to complete the Golden Masters is something extremely difficult. I know that well. So, I congratulate him because it’s a huge milestone. And he is very young; he still has a lot of time ahead of him.”

Djokovic also emphasizes that Sinner is in a brilliant phase of his career and warns of the danger he poses, especially with Alcaraz’s absence: “I think he is chasing the Golden Slam here, if I’m not mistaken. He is probably at the best moment of his career. Carlos’s absence further increases his chances of continuing to win Grand Slams. We are all here to try to defeat him and prevent him from continuing to accumulate titles.”

[Novak Djokovic](https://apitofinal.pt/modalidades/tenis/alexander-bublik-insulta-adversario-e-provoca-polemica-apos-vitoria-video/) does not hide his ambition and confidence for what lies ahead: amid pain, physical challenges, and fierce rivalry, the Serbian is determined to leave his mark and write another grand chapter in the history of world tennis. The [Roland Garros](https://apitofinal.pt/modalidades/tenis/emma-raducanu-responde-a-criticas-antes-do-open-da-franca/) promises intense emotions, and the world number one is ready for battle.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.