Former world No 1s Jim Courier and Caroline Wozniacki have both warned it would be a mistake to write off Novak Djokovic ahead of the 2025 French Open.
Djokovic will chase a fourth Roland Garros crown and record-extending 25th Grand Slam title overall at the clay-court major, which will begin on Sunday.
The legendary Serb has endured a challenging 2025 campaign by his standards, having lost his opening match at four of the eight tournaments he has played.
There have, though, been high points for Djokovic, who was a semi-finalist at the Australian Open and a runner-up at the Miami Masters.
The 38-year-old is competing at this week’s Geneva Open, where he ended a three-match losing streak with his second round win against Marton Fucsovics.
The world No 6 ended his coaching partnership with his former rival Andy Murray prior to his appearance in Geneva.
Speaking ahead of the French Open, TNT Sports pundit Courier was asked about Djokovic’s split with Murray and the tennis icon’s hopes of adding to his Grand Slam tally.
“First of all, I was surprised that they (Djokovic and Murray) got together in the first place, so I was not gonna be surprised when it ended, it was just gonna be, how long they’re gonna hang on together,” the four-time Grand Slam champion said at an event attended by Tennis365.
“Novak has been struggling, he’s not winning the matches he’s used to winning, but he has shown really high peaks this year.
“His gutsy win over Alcaraz in Australia while injured, his quarter-final and semi-final wins in Miami — he looked like the guy we recognise, it’s just been so erratic for him.
“So it’s a good sign he’s taken a wildcard into Geneva this week and he’s looking to get some matches there to build a little momentum into RG (Roland Garros). You write him off at your own risk.”
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On Djokovic being seeded sixth, Courier added: “It’s not gonna be easy. It’s tough sledding when you’re seeded in that second foursome (from five to eight).”
Wozniacki, who won the 2018 Australian Open, echoed Courier’s thoughts on Djokovic.
“You can’t write off someone who’s won so many Grand Slams, who’s obviously a big champion,” said the Dane.
“He’s been a bit up and down, but last year he said he wanted Olympic gold, he got his gold medal.
“He has clear goals in his mind and that’s where he wants to peak and there’s a reason why he’s playing this week in Geneva: it’s because he knows he hasn’t played his best tennis, he wants to find it before going into the next Grand Slam.
“You can never write him off, he’s beaten Alcaraz, he’s beaten the top players. If you can put it together for seven matches… it’s just not always easy when you get older too. Your body’s not the same as it used to be, you don’t recover as easily.
“Winning a Slam is never easy, but especially when you get to the age he’s at, but if someone can do it’s Novak. We know he takes care of his body so well. And he will use anything, nutritionally, physio, anything possible to find his peak.”
Djokovic will face world No 99 Mackenzie McDonald in his opening round match at the French Open.
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