Novak Djokovic fires stern warning to rivals at French Open

• Tennis News
• Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic has warned his rivals that this is the best he has felt since the Australian Open. Djokovic, who won a record 10th Australian Open title earlier this year, defeated Juan Pablo Varillas 6-3 6-2 6-2 to reach the French Open quarterfinal.

"Great energy on the court from the crowd and myself. I really enjoyed it. The best performance so far at the tournament, coming exactly at the right time, coming into the second week, playing another quarter-final where it’s going to get tougher.

I like the way I’m playing and feeling, and looking forward to a new challenge," Djokovic told Eurosport.

Djokovic: The best I've felt since the Australian Open

After tying Rafael Nadal's all-time Grand Slam record of 22 Majors, Djokovic is now aiming to also win the French Open and set a new Grand Slam record.

“I feel better than I did in the last couple of months. In the last seven-10 days, I’ve felt the best I’ve felt since the Australian Open. That’s good, I just have to keep going and not allow myself to think too far ahead, but I’m on a good path," Djokovic said.

Meanwhile, Djokovic delivered a really good performance against Varillas on Sunday. Djokovic started the match with back-to-back breaks and an early 4-0 lead. Djokovic lost one of his two breaks in the fifth game but it didn't change much as the Serb held on to his second break to clinch the first set.

After winning the first set, Djokovic broke Varillas in the first and fifth games of the second set en route to going up by two sets. In the third set, Varillas served out the opening game of the set before Djokovic won the next five games to open a very comfortable 5-1 lead.

In the eighth game, Djokovic converted his first match point to seal a routine win. Djokovic plays next against Karen Khachanov.