Second service: Novak Djokovic Rediscovers Mojo before Monte Carlo Masters

We cannot escape the fact that the age is reaching Novak Djokovic.

With its 38th birthday quickly, the evidence shows that the powers of the Grand Slam champion 24 times are falling.

But while the season of the men’s clay field begins in Monte Carlo, Djokovic looks in a much better place of two weeks ago.

Finish the second classified in Miami with the Czech teenager Jakub Messik has shown that the world number five is not yet ready to retire.

“There is no doubt that (motivation) has become more difficult during my career, but the performances in Miami give me more inspiration to go on,” said Djokovic.

The Serbian veteran knows that his service must be powerful if he challenges the next French Open and Wimbledon.

Unable to rely on the physicality against his younger opponents, Djokovic wants the accuracy of his opening shot – an underestimated part of his game – to help limit the basic rallies.

We saw the effectiveness in Miami.

On the basis of precision rather than power, it obtained 79% of the first services – including 87% of career in the semifinal against Grigor Dimitrov – and faced only seven pause points in its five opening games.

“Now I know what it means to be John Isner,” he joked after beating Dimitrov.

Djokovic has not won a larger since 2023 Us Open and claimed only one title last season, even if the Olympic gold that had long long.

This arrived on Roland Garros’s clay, where he aims to win an autonomous title of the 25th Grand Slam in June.

His other priority is becoming only the third man to claim a hundredth title at the tour level.

However, he will have to cross a strong field in Monte Carlo, with 17 of the top 20 competing players.

Great Britain Jack Draper is one of these, with Alexander Zverev AND Carlos Alcaraz Among the favorites.