French Open - Novak Djokovic dancing to his own beat

SURELY this is not how you prepare to win your second consecutive grand slam event and take over the top ranking - unless you are "The Djoker".

With dance tunes cranking at chest-thumping volume, thousands of fist-pumping fans on their feet and famous French DJ Bob Sinclar impersonating Bjorn Borg on the other side of the net, Novak Djokovic spent a large slice of French Open eve relaxing the best way he knows how.

Clowning around to the delight of the packed stands for a kids' day at Court Philippe Chatrier, the Australian Open champion showed the very essence of his barnstorming season in which he has won 37 consecutive matches.

Rafael Nadal, who must defend his Roland Garros title and hope Djokovic fails to reach the final if he is to stop the Serb from replacing him as world No.1, put it in one word: Confidence.

"Everybody knows how good Novak is and how good he can be, but it was the same a few years ago," Nadal said.

"Right now he's winning, and with the victories, your confidence is higher and higher every time."

Nadal has branded Djokovic the favourite, although the latter returned the compliment.

Roger Federer, the 2009 champion, believes the focus on their rivalry can work to his advantage.

"Last year I was the defending champion. The year before and the years before that I was trying to win Paris for the first time," Federer said.

"So I've always had that big cloud hanging over and the 'am I ever going to win the French Open' question.

"That's been answered. I think this year, maybe they expect more from Rafa and Novak and that could be a good thing for me and more pressure for them."

While he did not look like a man under pressure, Djokovic acknowledged he was not invincible.

"I don't feel unbeatable, nobody is unbeatable, even though I had an incredible run that keeps going," Djokovic said.

"I'm really not trying to think about the run that I have, or I'm not trying to think about when this run will end because that will mean that I'm thinking about losing."

Djokovic was also proud to play his part in shaking up the men's game.

"I think it's good for the sport to have another rivalry in tennis," he said.