The world’s top-ranked player, who is pursuing his fourth Roland Garros title and a record-extending 25th major, is currently experiencing his most challenging period since 2018.
Djokovic, 37, has yet to reach a final and has not won a title in 2024.
His greatest performances are semi-final appearances at the Australian Open and Monte Carlo Masters.
He was also subjected to the indignity of being inadvertently struck on the head by a metal water bottle in Rome, which resulted in nausea and dizziness.
Djokovic disclosed that he had been grappling with a gastrointestinal issue in Geneva, where he was defeated by Tomas Machac of the Czech Republic last week.
“I would not refer to them as holes.”
Djokovic, who witnessed his 14-time champion and long-time adversary Rafael Nadal withdraw from the tournament against Alexander Zverev on Monday, described them as “bumps on the road.”
“I have always looked ahead, what is the next challenge, and what it takes for me to be better than I was last week.”
When requested to provide further details regarding his challenges this season, Djokovic elected to maintain his silence.
“There have been a number of events over the past few months, but I am not interested in discussing them.”
I am hesitant to unlock Pandora’s Box.
“The events that have transpired have occurred and are now in the past.”
“I am aware of the precise actions I must take in a Grand Slam scenario.”
In my professional life, I have encountered that situation 24 times.
On Tuesday, Djokovic will face French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert, whom he defeated in their sole previous encounter at the Paris Masters in 2013.
Despite making the third round in 2018, Herbert, the world number 142, has yet to win a match on the main tour this year.
In other news, Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time Australian Open champion, initiated her challenge to reach her first Roland Garros final on Tuesday.
In each of the previous six Grand Slam events, the world’s second-ranked player has advanced to at least the semi-finals.
Sabalenka is the sole woman to defeat world number one and three-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek in a clay final, which occurred in Madrid last year.
Swiatek lost her first WTA title decider as an adolescent in 2019 at a low-key event in Switzerland.
Until last year, when she was eliminated by Karolina Muchova in the semi-finals, the 26-year-old Sabalenka had never advanced to the second week at Roland Garros.
“Iga is a significant source of motivation for me, and I believe that she has contributed to my improvement in a variety of areas.”
Sabalenka, who commences her Paris campaign against Erika Andreeva of Russia, stated, “She sort of like pointed to the things I wasn’t good at.”
Elena Rybakina, the fourth seed, takes on Greet Minnen of Belgium.
Rybakina’s most notable performance at Roland Garros was a quarterfinal appearance in 2021.
Roman Andres Burruchaga, an Argentine qualifier with a history of sporting success, will also be on the court in the men’s singles on Tuesday.
Jorge, his father, is renowned for scoring the winning goal for Argentina in the 1986 World Cup final against West Germany, which was won by Diego Maradona.
The 22-year-old, who is ranked at 144, is making his Grand Slam début and will be facing Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.