matured into a more level-headed player.
“I just feel more complete as a player in terms of ability to handle the emotions on the court, to find a way to win the tough matches,” he explained.
If he is to join Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Federer and Nadal as a winner at all four grand slams, Djokovic may first have to beat Nadal in the quarter-finals.
The nine-times French Open champion arrives in Paris on the back of his worst claycourt season since he first played the tournament in 2005.
He remains, however, a formidable opponent in best-of-five-set matches on his favoured surface.
“(There) had always been a big title on clay (for him) coming into Roland Garros. It wasn’t the case this year, so it is probably a bit different approach for him,” said Djokovic, who could face Briton Andy Murray in the last four and 17-times grand slam champion Federer in the final on June 7.
Monfils, who like Tsonga was an outstanding junior, has also a semi-final appearance at the French Open in 2008 when he lost to Roger Federer and he made the last eight last year before losing in five sets to Andy Murray.
As ever, the 28-year-old Parisian is blowing hot and cold, crushing Federer in straight sets in the Davis Cup final on clay last November and beating him again at Monte Carlo in April en route to the semi-finals before missing Rome due to injury and flopping in Madrid.
“I feel great because I think my body is getting better and better every day,” he said of his chances in Paris.
“I was a bit bothered with my knee. Had a lot of rehab. I just pick up the racquet maybe four days ago, four, five days ago. Maybe I miss a bit tennis, but every day it’s getting better. I have few more days.
“Hopefully I can pass the first round and, you know, just improve my game day after day.”
In the women’s draw, defending champion and second seed Maria Sharapova of Russia is confident she can add to her two Roland Garros titles after winning the Italian Open on clay last weekend.
World number one Serena Williams, looking to win her 20th grand slam title, withdrew from Rome to rest a sore elbow, a decision which the American hopes will help her in Paris.