Djokovic arrives Paris with shoulder issue

Novak Djokovic reached Roland Garros this week with less clay-court preparation than usual and with a shoulder problem he has said is still affecting him. The 38-year-old Serbian has played sparingly since losing the Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz in February, and his only clay event before Paris ended with an early defeat in Rome. Thursday’s French Open draw placed Djokovic in the opposite half from world number one Jannik Sinner, preserving the possibility of a final meeting rather than an earlier clash. Roland Garros starts on May 24 and runs through June 7, according to the tournament’s official schedule. ### How short has Djokovic’s build-up been? Djokovic has played only a handful of matches since February, with his 2026 schedule interrupted by physical issues and a reduced clay swing before Paris. Reuters-republished reporting in The Straits Times said he had played sparingly since the Australian Open final while managing a niggling shoulder issue, then lost early at the Italian Open and skipped his Geneva title defence. (straitstimes.com) Rome was his only completed clay event before Roland Garros, and it ended in the second round with a loss to Dino Prizmic, according to Djokovic’s official website and the same Reuters-based report. That left him without the usual sequence of Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Geneva-style match volume that top players often use to sharpen timing on clay. (straitstimes.com) ### What exactly did Djokovic say about the shoulder problem? Djokovic said on May 20 that his preparation had been “not ideal” because of recurring physical issues. “There’s always something. A new reality that I have to deal with. It’s frustrating,” he said, according to the Reuters report carried by The Straits Times. The same report said Djokovic also acknowledged a lack of readiness at the level he expects from himself. “I’m not definitely where I want to be for the highest level,” he said after his Rome campaign ended, adding that he had wanted to start his clay preparation earlier but could not. (straitstimes.com) ### Where did the draw put him in Paris? (straitstimes.com) Thursday’s official draw put Djokovic in the bottom half with second seed Alexander Zverev and away from Sinner until a possible final. The ATP said Djokovic opens against France’s Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard and could face Joao Fonseca in the third round, with Casper Ruud listed as a potential fourth-round opponent. Roland Garros’ official results page confirms the men’s singles draw was released for the 2026 tournament. (straitstimes.com) Djokovic’s own website also listed Mpetshi Perricard as his first-round opponent and gave the tournament dates as May 24 to June 7 in Paris. ### Why does Sinner matter to Djokovic’s route? Sinner entered the draw as the top-ranked player and in strong form, carrying a 29-match winning streak, the ATP said after the ceremony. (atptour.com) Because the two were placed in opposite halves, they cannot meet before the championship match. The draw does not remove difficulty from Djokovic’s side. The ATP said Zverev is in the same half and Ruud is a possible fourth-round opponent, giving Djokovic a route that includes established clay-court players before the final weekend. (rolandgarros.com) ### Who is working with Djokovic in Paris? Djokovic said this week that Viktor Troicki, his long-time friend and former Serbia Davis Cup teammate, is now his head coach. (atptour.com) Reuters reporting carried by The Straits Times said Troicki had already worked with Djokovic during his Paris Olympic title run and previously alongside Serbia’s 2010 Davis Cup-winning team. Troicki arrives at a moment when Djokovic is trying to rebuild match sharpness during the tournament rather than before it. Roland Garros begins on May 24, with Djokovic scheduled to start against Mpetshi Perricard and Sinner opening his campaign against French wild card Clement Tabur, according to the ATP and Djokovic’s official site. (atptour.com) (straitstimes.com)