Ten players to watch at Roland-Garros

PARIS | With the absence of Rafael Nadal, a first since 2005 at the French Open, the door is wide open to crown a new champion on Parisian clay. The suitors are numerous, but young Carlos Alcaraz and veteran Novak Djokovic dominate the list.

Here are five players to watch over the fortnight.

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Carlos Alcaraz

• Spanish
• 1^er global
• 20 years

He finds himself in the position of favorite of a major tournament for the first time in his young career. Nadal or not, Alcaraz does not lack ambition. “Even if ‘Rafa’ had been there, I wouldn’t have given myself less of a chance of winning,” he recently told journalists in Paris. But Alcaraz has it all, as they dominate on clay, having won 20 of their 22 matches on clay this year and claiming four titles.

Novak Djokovic

Long at the top of the ATP, “Djoko” did not play as much as he would have liked during the pandemic due to his vaccination situation. His status as third favorite does not bother him at all, leaving the pressure on Alcaraz’s shoulders. But Djokovic is not in Paris to play the tourist. He wants to use his experience to get his hands on a 23^e Grand Slam title, which would allow him to pass Nadal.

Daniel Medvedev

Clay is not his favorite surface, but he reached the fourth round in Monte Carlo and Madrid before surprising everyone by triumphing in Rome against the young Dane Holger Rune, having defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in particular and Alexander Zverev. “I may have more expectations than usual at Roland-Garros, but I know it can be a trap,” he qualified.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Finalist at Porte d’Auteuil in 2021 against a triumphant Djokovic, Tsitsipas has still not won a trophy this season. And he arrives in Paris with one coach less, having confirmed the end of his collaboration with the Australian Mark Philippoussis. He chose to continue with his father, Apostolos. “I’m at a turning point in my career, I need a single coach who gives me all the information, who analyzes everything I need to improve in my game,” he said. .

Felix Auger-Aliassime

• Canadian
• 10^e global
• 22 years old

The chances of the Quebecer lifting the Musketeers cup in two weeks are slim, especially considering he’s had a rocky season and is feeling pain in his right shoulder. Other players like Casper Ruud, finalist last year at Roland-Garros against Nadal, Rune, Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner could go a long way. But we should never count Félix for beaten during a Grand Slam, he who pushed Nadal to the limit in the round of 16 last year on the Parisian ocher.

Women to Watch

PARIS | It would be easy to immediately hand the champion’s trophy to Iga Swiatek, who has won two of the last three Roland-Garros, but the competition will be great with the new women’s ‘Big Three’. Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina are far from the status of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, but their growing rivalry is good news for the WTA. Here are five players to watch at Roland-Garros.

Iga Swiatek

• Polish
• 1^D world
• 21 years old

Credit where credit is due, Swiatek deserves to be considered the favorite in Paris. The queen of clay began her season on her favorite surface by defeating Sabalenka in the final in Stuttgart, Germany. The latter, however, took her revenge in Madrid. However, Swiatek dropped out in Rome in the quarter-finals against Rybakina due to right thigh pain. Fortunately, everything seems to be back to normal. However, her table is not easy since she could meet major tournament champions, such as Barbora Krejcikova, Victoria Azarenka or Bianca Andreescu, and Coco Gauff.

Aryna Sabalenka

• Belarusian
• 2^e world
• 25 years

The winner of the last Australian Open has never reached the quarter-finals at Porte d’Auteuil. But its recent performance on ocher suggests good things. Much like Swiatek, Sabalenka is motivated by this new rivalry. “I love playing against Iga or Elena. These are always tough, close battles. It pushes you to show yourself on your best side. No game is easy.” If she needs additional motivation, Sabalenka can look to world number one, which she could steal from Swiatek at the end of the fortnight if the Pole does not reach the quarter-finals.

Elena Rybakina

• Kazakh
• 4^e world
• 23 years

Finalist at the Melbourne major and champion at Wimbledon last year. She also lost in the quarter-finals at Roland-Garros in 2022. This season, she triumphed in Indian Wells against Sabalenka as well as on the ground of Rome. It should therefore not be taken lightly. In the first round, Rybakina will have to be wary of her opponent from qualifying, Brenda Fruhvirtova. At just 16, the Czech is 146^e world, but on the rise, like another 16-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva, 143^e.

Leylah Annie Fernandez

• Canadian
• 49^e world
• 20 years

She does not have a good time, like the four other Canadians registered in singles at the French Open. However, she is able to take her game up a notch in big events, as she did in 2021 when she made the final at the US Open. Leylah has played no less than 10 matches on clay in the past few weeks and it could finally pay off. On Sunday, she started her tournament on the right foot by defeating the Polish Magda Linette, 21^e first in the series.

Bianca Andreescu

• Canadian
• 42^e world
• 22 years old

It has already been four years since she triumphed at the United States Open. Even if his star has since faded, the former fourth racket in the world is often spectacular and his determination charms fans. If she can stay healthy, Bianca could surprise in Paris. However, his history in the French capital is not brilliant, having never passed the second round. Moreover, she only played two matches on clay: two losses. Also, her first-round rival is none other than former WTA No. 1 Victoria Azarenka.