Life is not as easy as it was 10 years ago, Djokovic admits as he turns 38 and eyes French Open legacy

Dubai: Novak Djokovic turned 38 on Thursday — not with a party, but with a comeback. Trailing, frustrated, and on the brink of another early exit, he shattered a racket, steadied his mind, and found the fight that once made him untouchable. It wasn’t a Grand Slam final, just a rainy afternoon in Geneva. But it might be where his long road back to glory begins.

The 24-time major champion rallied from a break down in the second set to defeat Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi 6-4, 6-4 and reach the Geneva Open semi-finals. It was more than just a routine win. Arnaldi had stunned him earlier this month in Madrid, and with the French Open just days away, Djokovic is searching not just for rhythm — but for reassurance.

“I’m sorry for the racket, it’s not a good example, particularly for the young ones,” Djokovic told the crowd in French after the match. “Thank you for your support. I know with the cold temperatures it’s not easy to stay here.”

Down 1-4 in the second set and appearing to briefly clutch his right knee, Djokovic responded by reeling off five straight games. He clinched victory on his first match point after a wild forehand miss from Arnaldi.

“It was much closer than maybe the score indicates,” he said.

While Djokovic’s racket smash made headlines, it’s his form heading into Roland Garros that is causing concern. The Serb is aiming for a record-setting 25th Grand Slam title and his 100th ATP title — but it’s been nearly 10 months since his last tournament win.

“I know what it takes to be a Grand Slam champion,” he said. “It’s not as smooth and easy as it was 10 years ago. Obviously things change, and my life has changed a lot — but for the better, to be honest.”

The Serb is seeking to end a 10-month wait for his 100th ATP tournament victory, but one can’t rule him out after the 38-year-old has struggled for his best since defeating Carlos Alcaraz to win Olympic gold in Paris last year and returns to Roland Garros shortly after splitting from coach and former rival Andy Murray.

“Trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament,” he said at the time. “It’s a completely different feeling from what I had in 20-plus years of professional tennis.”

It has been touted as the most open Roland Garros men’s draw in decades given Djokovic’s form and the absence of the retired Nadal, but Djokovic has often bounced back emphatically when counted out in the past.

The last time his future was seriously questioned was following a shock 2018 French Open quarter-final loss to Marco Cecchinato when hampered by an elbow injury, which saw him drop out of the world’s top 20.

Back then, Djokovic responded by winning Wimbledon a month later and was world No 1 by the end of the year. He will be hoping the next turnaround in form during his illustrious career starts in Paris over the coming weeks.

“I feel that I still have the game, that I can be one of the contenders for the top Grand Slam titles,” Djokovic said. Geneva may be a footnote — or it may be the prologue to one more unforgettable Djokovic comeback.