Why Wimbledon rather than Roland-Garros is Novak Djokovic's best chance of record 25th major - Tim Henman
Published 19/05/2026 at 10:48 GMT+1
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Tim Henman believes Novak Djokovic’s best chance of winning a record 25th major will be at this year’s Wimbledon rather than at the upcoming French Open.
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The Serbian claimed his 24th Grand Slam tournament win at the US Open in 2023 but has since failed to land the triumph that would pull him clear of Margaret Court.
The dominance of Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner has proved a significant obstacle, with the pair winning each of the past nine major tournaments between them.
Djokovic’s chances of clinching the elusive title appeared to be slimming last season, falling at the semi-final stage in each of the four majors.
But he reached the final at the Australian Open in January and Henman believes the former world No. 1 has ”a shot” at the All England Club this summer, despite not fancying his chances at Roland-Garros.
”I don't see it coming on clay,”Henman told TNT Sports, when discussing a potential 25th major for the Serbian, who turns 39 on Friday.
”I think Djokovic no doubt has a chance at Wimbledon because the physical demands on grass are less than on clay.
”So, for me, at Djokovic's age, for him to win seven best-of-five-set matches on clay at Roland-Garros, I find that hard to believe.
”Whereas on grass, given his pedigree, and there are fewer players that are comfortable on grass, I definitely would give him a shot at Wimbledon.”
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Djokovic comes into Roland-Garros having lost his only match on clay this season, with the veteran beaten in the second round of the Italian Open by 20-year-old Dino Prizmic.
It was just the third tournament he has played this campaign, with defeat against Jack Draper at Indian Wells coming after his run to the final in Melbourne.
However, Henman is confident Djokovic will arrive in the French capital with the belief he can go all the way.
”He made the semis last year. He was in the final of the Australian Open, so he's always going to back himself,” Henman said.
”Is Roland-Garros good preparation for Wimbledon? It may be a sort of fitness and a match-play point of view, but he knows his way around every surface, every tournament, so he's not going to Roland-Garros just to make up the numbers.
”He obviously believes that he can have a deep run but, if I were going to bet on where he's got more chance for me, it's Wimbledon.”
Sinner 'clearest favourite' at Roland-Garros 'since Nadal'
Djokovic’s chances of success at Roland-Garros are improved by the absence of Alcaraz, who will not have the chance to defend his crown because of a wrist injury.
However, Henman feels that this simply opens the door wider for Sinner to storm to a sixth successive tournament victory, claiming the world No. 1 is the biggest favourite at the French Open since Rafael Nadal.
Sinner completed the full set of nine ATP Masters 1000 titles, known as the ‘career Golden Masters’, with victory in the Italian Open final on Sunday.
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Highlights: Sinner beats Ruud to complete Career Golden Masters
Video credit: SNTV
The 24-year-old became just the second man to achieve the feat after Djokovic, with his sixth Masters title on the spin, and Henman struggles to see another player lifting the trophy in Paris.
”If it's Sinner against the field, and if you give me the choice of Sinner or the other 127, I'll take Sinner every day of the week,” Henman said. ”He's playing that well and he's that confident.
”I think that his challenge is physically, that's the only sort of way I can see him losing, if he were to get injured or ill.
”Best of five sets, it's going to be, can somebody win a set? Yeah, they can win a set. Can they win two sets? I think it's pretty unlikely. Can they win three sets? I don't see it.
”I haven't seen this sort of clear favourite at the French Open since Rafa [Nadal].”
Henman added: ”It would be a brave person to bet against him at Roland-Garros.”
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Sinner’s Rome triumph in front of his home crowd comes after successive wins at Indian Wells, the Miami Open, the Monte-Carlo Masters and the Madrid Open.
The four-time major winner has won 29 matches in a row, dropping just three sets in that time, a run which Henman believes underlines the importance to the sport of his rivalry with Alcaraz.
”I think the focus and the ability to not have any dips, from a day-to-day basis, I think is what has really impressed me with Sinner, what he's done in these Masters 1000s," Henman said.
”It's incredible, and I think it does emphasise how the sport needs Alcaraz back. With Alcaraz injured, it's as if Sinner's missing his wingman.”
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