Djokovic ‘playing a game’ to outdo Nadal as Spaniard plots comeback

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Mats Wilander has claimed that Novak Djokovic is “playing a percentage game” to earn himself the most Grand Slam titles in history. The world No 2 is currently tied with Rafael Nadal on 22 – the men’s singles record. And with the Spaniard set to return ahead of the French Open, Wilander explained how Djokovic was trying to give himself the best chance to get ahead.

Djokovic managed to draw level with Nadal in the Grand Slam race earlier this season, lifting his 10th Australian Open crown to tie the 36-year-old on 22 overall Major titles. The Serb is already eyeing a contest for a record 23rd trophy after sharing his wish to face the ‘King of Clay’ in the French Open final.

And the pair could well set up a showdown at Roland Garros in June as Nadal’s comeback from injury appears to have been confirmed. The Monte Carlo Masters recently revealed that the world No 13 had committed to the first event of the clay season beginning on April 9 – the perfect preparation for the French Open.

While Djokovic himself has declared his rival as the “number one favourite” to win in Paris, one former pro believes that the 35-year-old is setting himself up to keep winning Majors in the years to come, allowing him to surpass Nadal. “I think he’s playing a percentage game right now,” Wilander told Eurosport, discussing the Serb’s tactics.

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“With longevity, that means he’s going to win another two to five Grand Slam titles because his average is obviously more than one Grand Slam victory per year. I think he’s up at 1.3 or 1.4 Grand Slam victories a year since the first day that he won the Australian Open.”

Even if Djokovic found himself unable to win the French Open this summer, the Swede believed that the world No 2 was well aware that he could keep lifting big titles in the years to come. “I think he knows ‘if I just stay healthy, I’m going to have my opportunities and I’m going to be winning more Slams,’” he added.

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“Whether it’s at Wimbledon, whether it’s even at Roland Garros, of course, the Australian Open, and then as well at the US Open.” Having already secured a Major title in Melbourne this year, Wilander said Djokovic was showing that he could keep winning one per season.

He continued: “Longevity means, ‘hey, guys, I’m not old, I feel young’. He looks young, and he’s going to be winning majors as long as he’s healthy. He’s going to win, on average, one Grand Slam title per year that he still keeps playing. I think that’s what he’s telling us.”

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