Can Djokovic climb the mountain?

If he wins, No.2-seeded Carlos Alcaraz, who faces Lorenzo Musetti on Friday, could be waiting.

Who better to handle an unprecedented task than the man who has singlehandedly rewritten the sports’ record books over the last five years, at an age when tennis players are supposed to be well into retirement?

Seven-time major champion John McEnroe, in Paris to call the action for broadcast partner TNT, says that no matter how Djokovic fares this weekend, he’s got an embarrassment of riches to hang his hat on. The 38-year-old juggernaut has won half of his 24 major titles after turning 30, far and away more than any player, male or female.

McEnroe remembers struggling against then-19-year-old Pete Sampras at the 1990 US Open semifinals. He lost in four sets and never won another major.

"I actually felt like 31 was 38 at that point,” he told Rolandgarros.com. “If we got to 30 we were impressed with ourselves. Now it seems embarrassing.”

McEnroe says that what’s most impressive about Djokovic is his ability to evolve as a player at an advanced age.

“He’s almost, in certain ways, better,” he said. “I really admire that because I wasn’t able to do that. I think my best tennis was 25 or 26, and I felt like I was getting worse, which was a horrible feeling.”

McEnroe says he envies the late-career renaissance that Djokovic has cultivated.

“His serve over the course of the last few years is better than it’s ever been,” McEnroe says. “I think he volleys better than he ever did. I think he’s got more touch, and he’s using the drop shot more than I’ve ever seen him – and more effectively.”

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