Mats Wilander has backed Novak Djokovic to triumph at the 2022 Roland Garros as the Serbian player looks to defend his title at the clay-court major.
Djokovic will head to the 2022 Roland Garros as one of the clear favorites and the current ATP world number one. The Serbian has had a strong campaign so far this season, and he will go to Paris off the back of an Italian Open title win after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets.
Moreover, the 20-time Grand Slam champion will have additional motivation after missing out on the Australian Open this season. Djokovic was unable to defend his title at the 2022 event at Melbourne Park following a dispute with Australian authorities over his COVID-19 vaccination status.
Like many global tennis fans, seven-time Grand Slam winner Wilander is a big fan of Djokovic. Wilander has previously mentioned his admiration of Djokovic and in an exclusive interview with Spanish news outlet Marca, the former Swedish player believes the Serbian has more at stake than the other favorites.
"For many reasons, I have to say Novak (Djokovic). First, because Rome has just won, and that will give him confidence; then, because I believe that he has within him a feeling of revenge after everything that has happened to him in recent months... Unable to play the Australian Open."
Some of the question marks over Djokovic's readiness to defend his Grand Slam title at the Roland Garros will come from his poor form earlier this season.
In Dubai, the world number one was stunned by qualifier Jiri Vesely in the quarter-final, and he lost in the first round of the Monte-Carlo Masters against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Djokovic recovered and put in some improved displays in the following tournaments as he reached the final at his hometown tournament, the Belgrade Open. The 34-year-old then reached the Madrid Open semi-final before losing to up-and-coming teenager Carlos Alcaraz.
But, despite these considerations, Wilander still feels that Djokovic has what it takes to notch his fourth Roland Garros title this year. The 56-year-old believes the Serbian has shown enough in his recent performances that he can lift the title.
"He is the defender of the crown. He has proven to himself that he can play long games again despite the defeat with Alcaraz in Madrid. In Monte Carlo he made a bad impression at the end of his match with Davidovich, he seemed tired. Now he's better, and he seems to be. He is the favourite in Paris."