With Jannik Sinner having lost and Carlos Alcaraz not even taking part, Roland Garros is there for the taking this year.
And as such, many looked to Novak Djokovic to capitalise.
After all, the Serbian has been desperately chasing that 25th Grand Slam title for years now, but has routinely been thwarted by these two superstars. It is their continued dominance which has prevented him from creating the history he so richly desires.
So, to see the 39-year-old crash out of the tournament just a day after Sinner did was disheartening, but has arguably proven one thing.
This is not the tournament in which Djokovic will win his 25th major title. Therefore, he should skip the entire clay-court swing next year.
Why Novak Djokovic should skip Roland Garros and the clay season next year
With Djokovic insisting he will not retire until the 2028 LA Olympics, we are seemingly set to be blessed with his legendary presence at least for a few more seasons.
However, time is ticking on his opportunities to win another Grand Slam title, as his physical issues only mount with age.
Have we seen the last of Novak Djokovic at Roland Garros? 😢
That is why Roland Garros, and the clay in general, does not favour him.
This surface is notoriously the most gruelling and physically demanding, and therefore not the place where Djokovic will thrive in his current inhibited state.
If he were to skip the entire swing in 2027, it would be a wholly unprecedented decision and one that could backfire massively.
However, it could also provide him a few months of extra recovery and training to prepare for the event where he actually has a realistic chance of challenging for the title: Wimbledon.
Novak Djokovic should focus fully on Wimbledon
In the last three years, Djokovic has reached two finals and the semi-finals at the All England Club. No other Grand Slam can compare to that level of success, where he has come so close to claiming the title.
On the hard courts, there is always an opportunity, but with Alcaraz missing from Wimbledon due to injury, this year in particular marks a huge chance.
Who is your favourite to win the French Open now that Jannik Sinner has been eliminated?
If he were to squander it, it would make sense to refocus and opt against playing Roland Garros, where he has just suffered his worst performance at a major in two years.
This is further punctuated by the fact that many pundits have told Djokovic that Wimbledon is his best chance of winning another major.
With Sinner dominant on hard courts, and both the Italian and Alcaraz boasting far more physicality than Djokovic, the grass represents a great equaliser.
That is why the seven-time champion should make a bold decision for the rest of his career, and start really cutting down his schedule in order to focus on the real chances he has of capturing glory.
