Novak Djokovic leaves Andy Roddick stunned with decision ahead of French Open

Andy Roddick has voiced his surprise at Novak Djokovic's unexpected decision to participate in a tournament just before the French Open.

The second Grand Slam of the year kicks off at Roland-Garros on Sunday, with most top players opting for rest and practice sessions. However, Serbian ace Djokovic took many by surprise when he decided to compete in the Geneva Open, where he celebrated his 1,100th ATP Tour victory after defeating Yannick Hanfmann in straight sets on Wednesday.

This move was triggered by his surprising early departure from the Italian Open due to Chile's Alejandro Tabilo earlier this month, just two days after being accidentally hit on the head by a water bottle. After undergoing tests, the world number one requested a wild card into the Swiss tournament and is set to play again in the quarter-finals today (Thursday).

The current French Open champion's participation in the low-key tournament has both delighted and surprised former US Open winner Roddick, 41. He told The Tennis Channel Podcast: "I like the move and I'm also shocked by it.

"You know, it's strange because he has been so confident just entering the biggest tournaments in the world without a lot of prep work, right?

"He's made a habit of that and been successful at it over the last three or four years. So, it definitely proves the point that we've been beating home all week that if something is different, you need matches even the best of all time.

"Sometimes you need some reps and some real reps, right? You can feel great in practice, you can't mimic that. So I think it's the right move. And hey, I'm sure I'm sure the Geneva Open is pretty pumped about getting him for free."

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Novak Djokovic at the Italian Open 2024

Djokovic hopes this appearance will prepare him well for his French Open defence. The 24-time Grand Slam champion triumphed over Casper Rudd in last year's final, securing his third Roland-Garros title in straight sets.

The victory also made him the oldest winner of the event in the Open Era at 36 years and 20 days old, surpassing the previous record held by Rafael Nadal. The Spanish icon won the 2022 edition at 36 years and two days old - a difference of 18 days.