Novak Djokovic has yet to win a trophy in 2024, but he remains the man to beat in the upcoming Grand Slam tournaments at Wimbledon and the French Open.
That’s the verdict of Netherlands Davis Cup captain and six-time Grand Slam winner Paul Haarhuis, who believes Djokovic will believe he can come into form when it matters most at the Grand Slam tournaments over the next couple of months.
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have been the star performers on the ATP Tour so far this year, but both are struggling with injuries with the French Open now less than two weeks away.
That has inspired Haarhuis to suggest Djokovic is primed to add to his record-breaking haul of 24 Grand Slams, as he spoke exclusively to Tennis365 ahead of his exclusive coaching clinics at the Verdura Resort in Sicily over the course of this year.
“I think Djokovic is probably the favourite for the Grand Slams still for a couple of reasons,” Dutch great Haarhuis told Tennis365.
“First of all, Sinner has not won at the French Open or Wimbledon. He hasn’t shown on grass that he is the main competitor.
“Secondly, Alcaraz has shown this year that he is physically struggling so he is not up to the level that you expect from him where you can say he is the favourite.
“That puts the only one who has done it so many times at the top of the list when you pick a favourite, especially for Wimbledon. So it looks like he has an advantage at the moment.
“Of course, we have a few weeks to Wimbledon and if someone wins Roland Garros, then wins Queen’s and goes into Wimbledon with all the belief and confidence, anything can happen.”
