History being on the line is something that is very flattering and is very motivating – Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic will be chasing his 23rd Grand Slam title at the Roland Garros and he will enter the tournament as one of the biggest favorites in the absence of Rafael Nadal, who is out with a hip injury. Djokovic is one of the most successful tennis players in the history of the game with 22 Grand Slam titles, the joint-most for any male player along with Nadal.

The Serbian had earlier won the Australian Open 2023 by beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final in straight sets. Meanwhile, Djokovic has won two French Open and he will be looking to add a third title to his glittering career.

With a chance to make history, Djokovic feels it is very flattering and motivating for him.

“It’s no secret that one of the main reasons I play today and compete in professional tennis is to try to break more records and make more history in tennis,” Djokovic said in his pre-tournament press conference on Saturday. “That’s extremely motivating and inspiring for me… History being on the line is something that is very flattering and is very motivating, no doubt about it.”

Meanwhile, Djokovic suffered a third-round exit in Monte-Carlo and then lost to Holger Rune in the quarterfinal of the Italian Open. The Serb was also troubled with an elbow injury. However, Djokovic confirmed he is fit as a fiddle now and would want to go all the way in Paris.

“I don’t have any physical issues that worry me. So that’s most important for me,” Djokovic said. “I want to feel good coming into a Grand Slam… I know how to approach the Grand Slam. I know how to live during these few weeks, in a way day in and day out, and I hope that I’ll have a few weeks. It would mean that I went far in the tournament.”

The Serbian will take on America’s Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round of Roland Garros on Monday.