As the 2025 French Open unfolds on the red clay of Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, continues to defy expectations, leaving even seasoned analysts like Andy Roddick second-guessing their predictions. On May 28, 2025, Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, took to his *Served* podcast to confess he felt like an “idiot” for underestimating Djokovic’s prospects at the tournament. Before the Serbian star played his second round in Geneva, Roddick had picked Francisco Cerundolo to upset Djokovic in a hypothetical French Open quarter-final. Cerundolo’s first-round exit to Tommy Paul dashed that prediction, and Djokovic’s strong form has left Roddick eating his words. “I want to very clearly say that I am an idiot. Very clearly. No questions asked,” Roddick admitted with a self-deprecating laugh, acknowledging how Djokovic’s recent performances flipped the narrative.
Djokovic, now 38, entered the 2025 clay season under a cloud of doubt after a rocky start to the year. Early exits in Monte Carlo to Alejandro Tabilo and Madrid to Matteo Arnaldi marked his worst clay campaign since 2018, and his withdrawal from the Italian Open raised eyebrows. Yet, his decision to compete in the ATP 250 Geneva Open proved a masterstroke. There, he secured wins over Yannick Hanfmann and Tallon Griekspoor, reaching the semi-finals before falling to Tomas Machac. “Novak, having won a 250 going in, is a different animal from Novak not having played in two or three weeks going in,” Roddick noted, marveling at how the Geneva matches restored Djokovic’s rhythm. His first-round win at Roland Garros over Mackenzie McDonald, coupled with a second-round victory, has him looking like the relentless “diesel engine” Roddick described, slow to start but nearly unstoppable once rolling.
Roddick’s initial skepticism stemmed from Djokovic’s lack of clay-court wins in 2025, a stark contrast to his dominant 2023 French Open title run. “Our boy Cerundolo – I never feel much shame about my picks,” Roddick quipped, reflecting on his flawed draw analysis. “It’s fun, we’re just guessing, but it went really bad for us really early with that one.” Djokovic’s ability to silence doubters is nothing new. Despite a season plagued by early losses, including a Miami Open final defeat to Jakub Mensik, the Serbian remains a formidable force. His 97th win at Roland Garros puts him within striking distance of joining Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the exclusive 100-win club at a single Grand Slam, a feat Roddick believes is within reach if Djokovic advances to the quarter-finals.
The broader context of Djokovic’s season adds intrigue to his Paris campaign. After a semi-final loss at the Australian Open and a doping suspension that sidelined him for three months, Djokovic’s hunger for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title is palpable. Roddick highlighted the Serbian’s mental edge, noting, “Novak doesn’t fear [Sinner and Alcaraz]. He genuinely believes his best is still better than theirs.” Facing a draw with young stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who have split the last five majors, Djokovic’s path is daunting. Yet, his Geneva performance and early Roland Garros wins suggest he’s rediscovering the form that saw him win Olympic gold on the same clay courts in 2024. Social media buzzed with fans praising Djokovic’s resilience, with some cheekily noting Roddick’s “idiot” comment as proof of the Serbian’s knack for defying odds.
Roddick’s candid admission reflects the unpredictability of Djokovic’s genius. “I just have this feeling he is going to make a deep run now,” he said, impressed by Djokovic’s ability to “flip confidence levels very quickly.” As Djokovic prepares for his third-round match, potentially against Lorenzo Musetti or Cam Norrie, the tennis world watches with bated breath. Roddick’s misstep underscores a timeless truth: betting against Djokovic, even in a challenging season, is a risky proposition. With a favorable section of the draw and his legs back under him, the Serbian legend is poised to remind everyone why he remains a titan of the sport, one match at a time.
# Andy Roddick’s Mea Culpa: Underestimating Novak Djokovic at the 2025 French Open
As the 2025 French Open unfolds on the red clay of Roland Garros, Novak Djokovic, the 24-time Grand Slam champion, continues to defy expectations, leaving even seasoned analysts like Andy Roddick second-guessing their predictions. On May 28, 2025, Roddick, the 2003 US Open champion, took to his *Served* podcast to confess he felt like an “idiot” for underestimating Djokovic’s prospects at the tournament. Before the Serbian star played his second round in Geneva, Roddick had picked Francisco Cerundolo to upset Djokovic in a hypothetical French Open quarter-final. Cerundolo’s first-round exit to Tommy Paul dashed that prediction, and Djokovic’s strong form has left Roddick eating his words. “I want to very clearly say that I am an idiot. Very clearly. No questions asked,” Roddick admitted with a self-deprecating laugh, acknowledging how Djokovic’s recent performances flipped the narrative.
Djokovic, now 38, entered the 2025 clay season under a cloud of doubt after a rocky start to the year. Early exits in Monte Carlo to Alejandro Tabilo and Madrid to Matteo Arnaldi marked his worst clay campaign since 2018, and his withdrawal from the Italian Open raised eyebrows. Yet, his decision to compete in the ATP 250 Geneva Open proved a masterstroke. There, he secured wins over Yannick Hanfmann and Tallon Griekspoor, reaching the semi-finals before falling to Tomas Machac. “Novak, having won a 250 going in, is a different animal from Novak not having played in two or three weeks going in,” Roddick noted, marveling at how the Geneva matches restored Djokovic’s rhythm. His first-round win at Roland Garros over Mackenzie McDonald, coupled with a second-round victory, has him looking like the relentless “diesel engine” Roddick described, slow to start but nearly unstoppable once rolling.
Roddick’s initial skepticism stemmed from Djokovic’s lack of clay-court wins in 2025, a stark contrast to his dominant 2023 French Open title run. “Our boy Cerundolo – I never feel much shame about my picks,” Roddick quipped, reflecting on his flawed draw analysis. “It’s fun, we’re just guessing, but it went really bad for us really early with that one.” Djokovic’s ability to silence doubters is nothing new. Despite a season plagued by early losses, including a Miami Open final defeat to Jakub Mensik, the Serbian remains a formidable force. His 97th win at Roland Garros puts him within striking distance of joining Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal in the exclusive 100-win club at a single Grand Slam, a feat Roddick believes is within reach if Djokovic advances to the quarter-finals.
The broader context of Djokovic’s season adds intrigue to his Paris campaign. After a semi-final loss at the Australian Open and a doping suspension that sidelined him for three months, Djokovic’s hunger for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title is palpable. Roddick highlighted the Serbian’s mental edge, noting, “Novak doesn’t fear [Sinner and Alcaraz]. He genuinely believes his best is still better than theirs.” Facing a draw with young stars like Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who have split the last five majors, Djokovic’s path is daunting. Yet, his Geneva performance and early Roland Garros wins suggest he’s rediscovering the form that saw him win Olympic gold on the same clay courts in 2024. Social media buzzed with fans praising Djokovic’s resilience, with some cheekily noting Roddick’s “idiot” comment as proof of the Serbian’s knack for defying odds.
Roddick’s candid admission reflects the unpredictability of Djokovic’s genius. “I just have this feeling he is going to make a deep run now,” he said, impressed by Djokovic’s ability to “flip confidence levels very quickly.” As Djokovic prepares for his third-round match, potentially against Lorenzo Musetti or Cam Norrie, the tennis world watches with bated breath. Roddick’s misstep underscores a timeless truth: betting against Djokovic, even in a challenging season, is a risky proposition. With a favorable section of the draw and his legs back under him, the Serbian legend is poised to remind everyone why he remains a titan of the sport, one match at a time.
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