“Slightly slower game”: Toni Nadal reveals Novak Djokovic’s hidden French Open plan to trouble World No. 1 Jannik Sinner

Novak Djokovic may not be the favorite to win the French Open this year, but Toni Nadal believes the Serbian still knows one way to trouble Jannik Sinner on clay. The former coach of Rafael Nadal said Djokovic’s approach during last year’s French Open semifinal showed that Sinner can still be pushed out of his comfort zone if the match slows down. Sinner defeated Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) in that semifinal on Court Philippe Chatrier in 2025. Even though the Italian won in straight sets, Djokovic managed to break the rhythm that usually makes Sinner so dangerous from the baseline. Toni Nadal now feels that tactic could again become important if the two stars meet in Paris this season.The timing of Nadal’s comments is important because Sinner enters the tournament as one of the biggest favorites for the title. Carlos Alcaraz is not expected to play, while Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz are dealing with fitness concerns. That leaves the draw more open and gives experienced players like Djokovic a possible chance to make another deep run, even without much clay-court preparation this season.

Toni Nadal says Novak Djokovic’s slower style could disrupt Jannik Sinner at the French Open

Speaking on Radioestacio Noche, Toni Nadal explained why Djokovic’s game plan worked better than most players against Sinner on clay last year. According to Nadal, Sinner is most comfortable when points are played at a very fast speed, so slowing things down becomes important. “I think the one who played well against him was Djokovic last year, when he played a slightly slower game with slightly higher balls,” Nadal said.“It’s clear that what Sinner does best is play at a very high tempo, and let’s not forget that, if we have to classify Medvedev among clay-court players, he isn’t in the top 10.”Nadal also compared the current field to previous generations of top clay-court players. He pointed out that some former stars were much stronger on the surface than many of the players Sinner is facing now. “I remember his frustration at playing on clay, but he’s no David Ferrer, Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka or Juan Martin Del Potro on clay,” Nadal added. “He gave Sinner a bit of a run for his money, but in sport everything can change overnight.”Toni Nadal also said Djokovic showed during last year’s semifinal that Sinner can still feel pressure in the biggest moments. “You have to look at the calibre of the players you’re up against. And I remember that last year Djokovic clearly put Sinner under pressure. Anything can happen, and the players coming up behind must fight as if it were the match of their lives. And then we’ll see.”Even with questions around his clay form this season, Djokovic’s experience and ability to adjust during matches could still make him one of the biggest threats to Jannik Sinner at Roland Garros.