Djokovic has had a disappointing clay season to date by his traditional requirements. This 12 months marks the primary since 2018 that he has been unable to win a title on the floor within the lead-up to the French Open, and he has not made it past the quarter-final of any clay occasion.

However, Rune nonetheless believes that the two-time former French Open champion is the favorite so as to add a 3rd Musketeers’ cup trophy to his cupboard in just a few weeks’ time. The 20-year-old earned his second profession victory over Djokovic in Rome on his approach to the ultimate, and shortly turned his consideration to the world No 3 when requested about Roland Garros favourites.

After shedding to Daniil Medvedev within the championship match on the Italian Open, Rune was requested whether or not the 27-year-old was a title contender in Paris. “I mean, I think so,” he began, earlier than naming Djokovic.

“I still think Novak is the main favourite for the event. He's the one with the most Slams of who's playing, the most experience.” Rune nonetheless thought Medvedev was in competition alongside one other title, including: “Then we have [Carlos] Alcaraz. We have Medvedev. We have a lot of guys.”

Rune confessed that there have been extra alternatives this 12 months within the absence of Nadal, who's a 14-time champion on the French Open. But he was nonetheless putting his bets on Djokovic with the Spaniard sidelined by an damage.

“I think if I have to pick one favourite, I'll probably pick Novak,” he mentioned, days after defeating the 36-year-old within the Rome quarter-final. “But again, it's more open because we don't have Rafa this year who has won 14 times or something like this.

Turning his attention back to Medvedev, he said: “For sure he's been showing good signs in this clay season, playing better and better. Yeah, for sure, I mean, I think he's one of the favourites.”