Novak Djokovic Faces Major Disadvantage Ahead of Roland Garros 2025

Novak Djokovic Faces Major Disadvantage Ahead of Roland Garros 2025

A thigh injury has left Novak Djokovic without a set return date, putting him in a difficult position ahead of Roland Garros 2025.

Djokovic to Miss Two Months, Skipping Major Tournaments

After withdrawing from the Australian Open 2025 semifinals on January 24 due to injury, doctors have diagnosed Djokovic with a two-week recovery period. However, to regain his peak form, he may need up to two months off from competition.

As a result, the Serbian star will miss the Qatar Open, which starts on February 17. Additionally, his chances of competing in the two crucial ATP Masters 1000 events in the U.S. – Indian Wells and Miami Open in March are highly uncertain.

Losing Advantage Ahead of the Roland Garros 2025 Draw

Djokovic’s extended break means he could miss most of the clay-court season or selectively participate in major tournaments such as Monte Carlo, Madrid Open, and Rome Masters in April and May.

Although Roland Garros 2025 (held from May 25 to June 8) remains his primary goal, with ambitions to secure his 25th Grand Slam title, Djokovic now faces significant challenges in the tournament draw.

Currently ranked No. 6 in the ATP rankings (as of February 4), Djokovic could fall out of the top 8 if he withdraws from Indian Wells and Miami Open, especially if players like Daniil Medvedev, Alex De Minaur, or Tommy Paul perform well in March.

If he is not among the top 8 seeds, Djokovic could face top contenders such as Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, or Taylor Fritz as early as the fourth round. This would make his Grand Slam campaign on clay more challenging than ever.

Djokovic Faces a Nightmare Schedule

At Australian Open 2025, Djokovic endured a tough quarterfinal against Alcaraz and later suffered an injury while facing Zverev, leading to his withdrawal after losing 6-7 in the first set. If he does not recover in time and improve his ranking, Djokovic could enter Roland Garros with a grueling draw, significantly affecting his chances of claiming his 25th Grand Slam title.