'Novak is back' - Alex Corretja impressed by 'focused, determined' Novak Djokovic after French Open win

ByAlasdair Mackenzie

Published 30/05/2024 at 17:33 GMT

Is Novak back? Eurosport's Alex Corretja thinks so after being impressed by the world No. 1's straight-sets win over Roberto Carballes Baena at the French Open. The 24-time major winner has been below his usual sky-high standards during the 2024 season, but Corretja believes "he's better than we thought" after witnessing an encouraging upturn in form against the Spaniard at Roland-Garros.

Alex Corretja believes “Novak is back” after Djokovic put in a much-improved performance to crush Roberto Carballes Baena at the French Open.

The world No. 1 came to Roland-Garros in patchy form after failing to win a title in 2024 and suffering shock defeats in Rome and Geneva, while his opening win over French wild card Pierre-Hugues Herbert was less than convincing.

However, the record 24-time Grand Slam winner returned to top form against Carballes Baena as he dropped only seven games in a straight-sets win lasting just over two hours.

Wimbledon men

‘I am pain free’ - Djokovic increasingly confident of making Wimbledon

9 hours ago

Corretja, analysing the match on Eurosport’s French Open coverage, said he believes the performance was an encouraging sign that the Serbian is returning to his top level.

“Today, Novak played great tennis, he moved extremely well,” Corretja said.

“In my opinion, he was hitting the ball way harder than in the first round, and especially he was so focused, so determined. I liked very much what he did today.

French Open highlights - Djokovic finds ominous form in victory over Carballes Baena

“Today, it felt like Novak is back because we’ve been missing him a lot.”

One of the issues Djokovic and others pointed to after his first-round win over Herbert was his return game being off.

The Serbian admitted he “couldn’t find the right position on the return”, while Eurosport analyst Mats Wilander said Djokovic’s returning was “not where it used to be or where it needs to be".

• Djokovic cruises into French Open third round with straight-sets win over Carballes Baena

• Zverev 'felt like I'd won the tournament' after beating Nadal in opener

• 'Unlucky' Nadal 'could easily have won' key sets in French Open defeat, says Djokovic

But Corretja saw huge improvements from a player widely regarded as one of the best returners the sport has ever seen.  

“Novak looked so calm on the return, so focused,” Corretja said.

“It was very important for me to see the way he was looking into Carballes’ serve and it was huge, because all the time he knew exactly where he wanted to put the ball.

“It’s so annoying for the Spaniard to see as he served well and all of a sudden, he finds the ball already into his feet. 

“Novak today showed he’s better than we thought at the beginning of the tournament.”

'Class is permanent' - Henman on Djokovic's amazing round-the-net shot

Henman – Djokovic ‘stepped it up’

Djokovic produced some showreel moments during his victory, particularly a wonderful winner around the net post that delighted the Philippe Chatrier crowd.

Eurosport expert Tim Henman was impressed by the improvement in the Serbian’s game and believes that moment of quality showed how his confidence is growing.  

“The cliché I used before the tournament was that form is temporary, class is permanent,” Henman said.

“His form hadn’t been great, but coming into a Grand Slam with his record there was certainly no panic.

“You see him hitting shots like that and really enjoying the atmosphere, the process of these types of matches. His form against Herbert was pretty ordinary but now he’s really stepped it up.

'Special moment' - Djokovic works the crowd with round-the-net winner

“When you pull off shots like this it’s just the feel-good factor and the confidence that he gets being out on the biggest stage, it’s ideal.

“When so many of the draw are having problems with the weather and they’re not completing their matches, for him to be through to the third round, straight sets in both matches, it’s a perfect start for Djokovic.”  

Next up for the top seed is a third-round tie against French favourite Gael Monfils or 30th seed Lorenzo Musetti, who face off in the night session on Philippe Chatrier.

- - -

You can watch every day of the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+.

Wimbledon

Murray drawn to face Machac in possible final Wimbledon, Djokovic, Alcaraz to meet qualifiers

Yesterday at 11:02

Wimbledon

'Federer had a weakness, Nadal has weaknesses, Djokovic doesn't'

Yesterday at 08:54

Roland-Garros

'Olympics way more important' - Djokovic should target Paris Games says Wilander

00:01:57

|

05/06/2024 at 12:14