French tennis legend Henri Leconte thinks Novak Djokovic “deserves” to become the first male player in tennis history to win all four Grand Slams at least three times.
Djokovic has won a record 10 Australian Open titles – has seven Wimbledon titles – he is also a three-time US Open champion.
At this year’s French Open, Djokovic is aiming to win his third title at Roland Garros.
If Djokovic wins the French Open, he will set a new all-time Grand Slam record with 23 titles and he will also become the first man with three titles in each Grand Slam tournament.
“That will remain for a long, long time. That’s something that Novak deserves, he’s doing everything to make it happen. On the other hand, those numbers can even increase, that simply has to be respected,” Leconte told Telegraf.
Leconte on the potential Djokovic-Carlos Alcaraz match
When the French Open draw was made and Djokovic and Alcaraz were placed in the same part, a potential semifinal between Djokovic and Alcaraz drew lots of attention.
In the absence of Rafael Nadal, many feel that Alcaraz is really the only one who could stop Djokovic from winning the French Open.
“I expect him to play his game, to be as strong as always. At the end of the day, though, it’s additional pressure on him. It will also be on Alcaraz, but more on Novak. Both think they will be able to lift the trophy and take Rafael Nadal’s place at the French Open. Both have the potential to win,” Leconte said.
Nine times, Djokovic’s French Open run ended with a defeat to Nadal.
But this year, Nadal is skipping the French Open for the first time since 2004.
After Nadal pulled out, Djokovic and Alcaraz were immediately mentioned as the two top favorites for the French Open title.
It remains to be seen if Djokovic can make tennis history at the French Open.