Novak Djokovic made his emotions concerning the French Open clear with a remark about Rafael Nadal. The world No 1 crashed out of the Rome Masters to Holger Rune on Wednesday, leaving the clay-court Major as his subsequent event. And he admitted that everybody’s possibilities in Paris depend on whether or not Nadal will play as he named two different gamers who might be a risk.

Djokovic’s try and defend his Italian Open title ended within the quarter-final as the highest seed misplaced to Rune 6-2 4-6 6-2. Ahead of the event, the Serb had a 2-2 file on the clay to this point for the season however improved to 5-3 following his run in Rome.

The world No 1 has nonetheless been scuffling with some bodily points throughout the clay swing whereas 14-time French Open champion Nadal remains to be sidelined with the psoas damage he picked up 4 months in the past. The Spaniard is now set to hold a press conference at his academy on Thursday to substantiate whether or not or not he'll compete, and the the reason why.

It has left uncertainties over who would be the favorite at Roland Garros, and Djokovic himself weighed in after his defeat. And the 35-year-old nonetheless thinks that Nadal’s participation will decide everybody else’s probabilities of profitable the title. “It depends if Nadal plays or not,” he smiled when requested if the upcoming French Open could be essentially the most open within the final twenty years.

As nicely as his long-time rival, Djokovic named two different gamers he thought could be harmful in Paris - together with his conqueror in Rome. He added: “But next to him of course Alcaraz, Rune, these guys are right there in the contention, some of the biggest favourites to win the title.”

And the world No 7 agreed with him, as Rune additionally stated his possibilities would relaxation on whether or not Nadal was again in time to compete at his most profitable event. “I still think, I mean, if Rafa is ready, Novak, I still see those two as the biggest favourites,” he stated when requested if he was a title contender.

The 20-year-old adopted Djokovic in naming Carlos Alcaraz as one of many favourites, whereas additionally throwing Jannik Sinner into the combination. He continued: “Obviously there's Alcaraz additionally. There's Sinner.