Novak Djokovic faced numerous challenges to achieve victory in all major tennis events.
Djokovic secured Olympic gold at Roland Garros last year, marking the completion of his career titles, as this was the last significant title missing from his resume.
Currently, there are concerns about Djokovic’s motivation due to his recent decline in performance in 2025.
While his main goal last year was the Olympics, Djokovic had been on a quest for a Roland Garros title, which eluded him until 2016.
Djokovic’s Reflections on Support from Federer and Nadal
Djokovic had not always enjoyed clay court play and had suffered three losses in Roland Garros finals before triumphing in 2016.
After nine-time champion Nadal withdrew due to injury in the third round, Djokovic seized the opportunity. He dropped only one set leading up to the finals, where he faced Andy Murray, guaranteeing a new champion.
Comparative Reflections on Rivalry
Djokovic later reflected on achieving the non-calendar year Grand Slam and whether he felt he had stepped out of Federer and Nadal’s shadows. He acknowledged assessing his game compared to his esteemed peers.
“I wouldn’t say I compare myself to them as people, but I do analyze what I need to learn from them to optimize my game,” Djokovic stated. “Both Nadal and Federer have greatly influenced the sport, and I respect their accomplishments and presence on the professional circuit.”
Djokovic has since secured two additional Roland Garros titles, leading him to currently hold more major titles than both Nadal and Federer with 24. However, this year, he enters the clay court Grand Slam without any prior wins on clay, having withdrawn from the Italian Open.
