Novak Djokovic revives wolf "spirit animal" with oversized Roland Garros jacket

Novak Djokovic is always up for the hunt when it comes to chasing Grand Slam trophies. But donning a custom-made warm-up jacket featuring his "spirit animal"—the wolf—at Roland Garros this year shows he's dressed for it, too.

Djokovic first detailed his personal connection to the wolf, also the national animal of Serbia, five years ago at Wimbledon, where he recalled a childhood interaction with the animal and said that he draws energy from it when the going gets tough on court. The motif has been intertwined in Djokovic's tennis life since then, with his wife Jelena even once donning a T-shirt with Djokovic's face featuring on a wolf's body.

Djokovic's latest piece of wolf-inspired apparel was custom-created by Pelagia Kolotouros, the creative director of Djokovic's apparel sponsor, Lacoste, in honor of his record-tying 22nd Roland Garros appearance. The design is inspired by the tones and textures of the clay-court surface, including real clay detailing, with a large wolf figure down the back.

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Djokovic needed all the wiles of a wolf to top Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in Paris on Sunday night in four sets in his opening round. Playing just his second match of the clay season, Djokovic did not break the Frenchman's serve for almost the entirety of two full sets, before converting his 10th opportunity in the second set on the way to a 5-7, 7-5, 6-1, 6-4 triumph,

Afterwards, Djokovic said he was "very honored" to wear the piece as he detailed the "little bit of inspiration" behind it, and told reporters that the test was "just what the doctor ordered."

"Obviously playing a French player, center court at Roland Garros is never so easy. The crowd gets into it and then you feel the pressure even more," Djokovic said after the two hour, 51-minute encounter. "But all in all it was a good match to be part of: Three hours, just what the doctor ordered at age 39."