Despite the straight-set score, Novak Djokovic was not at his impervious best in the first round of the French Open on Tuesday night. His 6-4, 7-6 (3), 6-4 win over Pierre-Hugues Herbert did not change the defending champion’s “low expectations” for this tournament. “I don’t want to get too excited,” Novak Djokovic said. “I thought it was a solid performance. Of course, I could have done better on return games, but credit to him for serving very well and mixing things up.”
Novak Djokovic secures 25th Grand Slam Title with First-Round Win
It’s been a more challenging season than usual for Novak Djokovic, and while there were signs of him shaking off his 2024 slump during the match at Court Philippe Chatrier, there’s still room for improvement. As he aims to become the first player in tennis history to secure 25 Grand Slam singles titles, it’s clear he is highly motivated by this goal.
Grand Slams are the ones that basically get me out of bed every day. Knowing that I have to hit the practice courts, I always think about what I can achieve in Grand Slams, he said. So here I am. Hopefully, I can have another deep run.”
Herbert anticipated facing the formidable “Novak of the Grand Slams” from the start. “I knew,” Herbert remarked, “that I would be up against Djokovic’s intense concentration and formidable presence.” Novak Djokovic, a three-time Roland Garros champion, must reach the final to maintain his No. 1 ranking. However, Novak Djokovic entered Paris without a final appearance in any tournament this year, going 0-3 in semifinals, including a recent loss at the Geneva Open on red clay. Despite this, his 2 1/2-hour victory improved his overall record to 15-6.
At times during the match against Herbert, Novak Djokovic displayed a hint of nervousness. Herbert, a 33-year-old Frenchman, boasts a career Grand Slam title in doubles but has yet to progress beyond the third round in singles at any major tournament. Presently ranked 142nd in the world, Herbert posed a challenge despite his lower ranking and lack of singles success on the big stage.
In a press conference on Sunday, Novak Djokovic shared his mindset heading into the French Open, stating he had “low expectations and high hopes.” This implies he approaches the tournament with a realistic view of the challenges ahead but maintains optimism for success. However, he also emphasized that “Anything short of a title is not satisfactory,” indicating his unwavering determination to achieve victory. This mindset reflects Novak Djokovic’s exceptional standards and ambition, considering his impressive accomplishments in the sport.
“In the critical moments, I believe I performed well. I played a strong tiebreak and remained focused,” Djokovic commented on Tuesday’s performance. “I’m pleased with my start and how I felt on the court. Compared to the previous tournaments, I felt improved. This indicates a positive trajectory for me. It’s just the beginning.”
In the scene described, the home crowd at a tennis match is strongly supporting Pierre-Hugues Herbert, a player presumably from their country. They are enthusiastically calling out his name and urging him on, even switching to English to cheer him on further. This switch to English might indicate their desire to reach out to Herbert directly or to show international support for him.
On the other hand, when Novak Djokovic, presumably the opponent, slips and falls during the match, the crowd’s attitude changes. Instead of supporting Djokovic or remaining neutral, they express their disapproval by jeering him when he takes a moment to towel off after his fall. This reaction suggests that the crowd is biased towards Herbert or against Djokovic, possibly due to national allegiances or past incidents in the match.