As the French Open approaches, all eyes are on Novak Djokovic—and for once, not for the reasons we're used to. The 24-time Grand Slam champion heads to Roland Garros without a single clay-court win in 2026, following early exits in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome. His latest setback came against Dino Prizmic at the Italian Open, after which Djokovic confirmed he would skip any further warm-up events before Paris.

But don't count him out just yet. Former world No. 1 and 2003 US Open champion Andy Roddick has learned his lesson the hard way. Speaking on his podcast, Roddick admitted that while Djokovic's unusual preparation might raise eyebrows, history has taught him never to underestimate the Serbian powerhouse. "I promised myself I wouldn't bet against him again, so I just can't do it," Roddick said.

Roddick pointed out that Djokovic has a track record of looking vulnerable in smaller tournaments before suddenly shifting gears at majors. He recalled how the Serbian often struggled in lead-up events last season, only to storm deep into Grand Slams. Roddick even described Djokovic as "a part-time tennis player" who still manages to hover near the top of the ATP rankings whenever he steps on court.

There's also the psychological edge. Roddick joked that Djokovic almost feeds off doubt, using criticism as fuel for his biggest performances. "He seems to thrive when people start writing him off," Roddick added. "That's when he's most dangerous."

Still, even Roddack couldn't ignore the elephant in the room: match practice. Djokovic has decided against returning to the Geneva Open—the same tournament he won last year before Roland Garros. Roddick expressed concern that the 38-year-old needs competitive reps before tackling best-of-five-set battles, especially as he approaches his 39th birthday. "Can he keep balancing limited preparation with deep Grand Slam runs? That's the big question," Roddick said.

If Djokovic does manage to lift the Coupe des Mousquetaires this year, he would become the oldest men's singles Grand Slam champion in the Open Era. And if anyone can pull off the unexpected, it's the man who's made a career out of proving the doubters wrong.