‘Djokovic can break Federer’s Slam record’

Former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli of France at an event in New Delhi on Monday. (Photo: Biplab Banerjee)

The gap between Novak Djokovic and the rest of the tennis world is widening by the day and former Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli feels that the world no. 1 Serb has a “good chance” of breaking Swiss legend Roger Federer’s record of 17 Grand Slams in coming years.

“For sure Djokovic is getting close to it. No one could have thought that someone will cross Federer’s 17 Grand Slam mark... But the level of tennis he is playing right now is incredible. He has a good chance of winning more slams than Federer,” Bartoli told this newspaper here on Monday.

With Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal hit by a nagging knee injury, Djokovic is widely favoured to win this year’s French Open.

But Bartoli still thinks that winning at Roland Garros, the only Grand Slam trophy missing from Djokovic’s cupboard, will not be easy for the 11 time Grand Slam winner.

“I understand Rafael Nadal is not in form but Djokovic lost to Stan Wawrinka last year... it is not only about one player. There is so much competition. How well you are prepared and how well you perform on the day matter the most. It is very difficult to travel and perform in different conditions. I have done it for 13 years and I can understand,” Bartoli, who retired from professional tennis in 2013, said.

The 31-year-old French tennis player-turned fashion designer was in the capital to launch the second edition of Rendez-vous, a tournament for Indian boys and girls to earn a wild card for the junior French Open.

Federer may be past his prime, but Bartoli feels that the superstar’s recent dip in performances are due to the natural process of ageing.

“Federer will always be one of the greatest, maybe the greatest. He is probably the greatest tennis champion of all time. The things he has managed to accomplish and the level to which he has taken the game is amazing.

“When he is playing, his style is so flawless and beautiful. It is almost like a ballet when he is playing. If I watch Federer’s match on television, I cannot switch it off,” said Bartoli, who defeated three reigning world no. 1 players in her career — Justine Henin in 2007, Jelena Jankovic in 2009 and Victoria Azarenka in 2012.

“But if you are 33 or 34, it is tough to compete against someone like Djokovic. You cannot say that Djokovic is superior. He is younger, so he can play for longer. Roger elevated the game to another level and then Rafa (Nadal) did it on clay. Now Djokovic is the dominant player,” she added.

Bartoli, who won the women’s singles title at Wimbledon in 2013, was also impressed by the superb form of the formidable doubles pair of Sania Mirza and Martina Hingis. They have also won an incredible 36 matches in a row, the second longest winning streak in tennis history.

“Sania’s ground strokes are difficult to play. Martina is good in the left corner while Sania is good in the right. They almost have the perfect combination, that is why they are winning so much,” Bartoli said.