Chrissie Evert Would Be ‘Surprised’ If Novak Djokovic Wins 25th Major At Roland Garros

PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 11: Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates with the winners trophy after victory ... More against Casper Ruud of Norway in the Men’s Singles Final match on Day Fifteen of the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros on June 11, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) Novak Djokovic will be seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title at Roland Garros beginning later this month, but Chrissie Evert doubts the 37-year-old can pull it off in Paris. Evert, the 18-time major champion, is part of TNT’s “Dream Team” for the network’s maiden coverage of the year’s second Grand Slam, which runs May 25-June 8. “I would never underestimate him, but I would be surprised if he won another major, let’s put it that way,” Evert said Friday during a phone interview from Boca Raton, Fla. “I mean, you’ve got to give the guy credit. This guy’s won everything, more than anybody. I would never say he’s not going to win, but I would be surprised. I would be pleasantly surprised, just with his results in the past and he’s human...I’m not feeling it.” Former US tennis player Chris Evert looks on as she attends the podium ceremony after the women’s ... More singles final match on day fourteen of the Roland-Garros Open tennis tournament at the Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris on June 10, 2023. (Photo by Thomas SAMSON / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS SAMSON/AFP via Getty Images) Djokovic is not competing in the Italian Open, but accepted a wildcard into the Geneva Open (May 18-24). The Serb holds a 12-7 record on the season and is ranked No. 6 in the world. He lost his first-round matches in Madrid and Monte Carlo on red clay, as well as on hardcourts at Doha and Indian Wells, but he did reach the finals in Miami and the semifinals at the Australian Open where he suffered a muscle tear in his hamstring. “I’ve seen him play brilliantly on grass, and he’s won Wimbledon so many times, that’s why I can’t say no, he’s not gonna win another one,” Evert said. “I don’t think it’s gonna be the French Open....but you can never count him out.” Per DraftKings, Djokovic, a three-time Roland Garros champion, is tied for the third betting favorite to win the title behind defending champion Carlos Alcaraz (+120) and world No. 1 Jannik Sinner (+250), who was set to return from his doping ban on Saturday in Rome. Djokovic and world No. 2 Alexander Zverev are both at +900 to win the title. PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 08: Iga Swiatek of Poland celebrates winning match point against Jasmine ... More Paolini of Italy during the Women’s Singles Final match on Day 14 of the 2024 French Open at Roland Garros on June 08, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) As for the women, four-time champion and world No. 2 Iga Swiatek (+160) is the favorite, followed by world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka (+275) and then 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva (+600) and Coco Gauff (+700). “I don’t know how you can pick anybody between Sabalenka, Iga and Coco, and with [Australian Open champ] Madison Keys really to me would be my fourth pick,” Evert said. She added that Sabalenka and Gauff are “playing at the top of their games,” but that Swiatek needs to find another gear in Paris. “I just don’t know how Iga is going to react,” Evert continued. “That, to me, is the unknown. We know what she is capable of, and with her past records, she’s brilliant at the French Open, but I just don’t know if she can find her A game, because she’s going to need it...It’s kind of like we’re seeing her C game right now.” Evert will be part of the TNT broadcast in Paris that also includes Venus Williams, Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, John McEnroe, Mats Wilander, Lindsay Davenport and Caroline Wozniacki. “I’ve been with ESPN for 15 years, and I’ll continue to be with them,” Evert said. “TNT, as far as I know, is only doing the French Open. So my allegiance really is to ESPN, but they don’t do the tournament, so they sort of gave me permission to do it with TNT. But I’m very happy that they asked me because I’m from [the] old school, John McEnroe and I are old school, and isn’t it great they have some fresh, new talent...I love the different personalities, I love the different perspectives.” Before she heads of to Paris, Evert will be honored on Monday by the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program (HJTEP) at the organization’s 53rd Annual Gala at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City. She will receive the Shining Star Award, while Morgan Stanley will receive the HJTEP Corporate Award. Patrick McEnroe will emcee the star-studded gala celebrating the achievements of nearly 1,000 young people who benefit each year from HJTEP’s tennis and education programs. Both a live and silent auction will raise critical funds needed to support these programs. Chrissie Evert working with the Harlem Junior Tennis & Education Program (HJTEP) in 2010. “It’s great to be honored, but we’re trying to raise money for kids,” Evert said. She added: “I am chairwoman of the USTA Foundation, so I’m familiar with a lot of these programs, and I’ve been really working with them for five years now,” Evert said, adding that she gives credit to Katrina Adams, the former chairman and CEO of the USTA and now the Executive Director and President of Harlem Junior Tennis. “I think that Katrina does a great job,” Evert said. “I have to give her a lot of compliments because she’s been with that program for 19 years, and she’s bullish in the in the way that she goes after sponsors. And anyone that can help these kids that deserve to be helped.” She continued: “You know, life isn’t fair, and there are a lot of kids out there who just don’t have the opportunities that others had. And so what better thing to do once you’ve retired and you made a lot of money and you’ve had your place in the sun, but it’s like it’s time to give back.” Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamzagoria/2025/05/10/chrissie-evert-would-be-surprised-if-novak-djokovic-wins-25th-major-at-roland-garros/