By Tony Fairbairn
- Novak Djokovic aims to defend his Roland Garros title as he will look to turn his season around in Paris.
- Top Seeds: Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev
- British Interest: Cameron Norrie [32], Dan Evans, Jack Draper, Andy Murray
PARIS, FRANCE – Novak Djokovic aims to defend his Roland Garros title and claim a 25th Grand Slam title as he looks to turn his year around in Paris.
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[1] Novak Djokovic
Best Result: Champion (2016, 2021, 2023)
Djokovic heads into the defence of his title in poor form but if there is one player who knows to elevate his level when it really matters then it’s the world number one.
Djokovic’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Pierre-Hughes Herbert [WC] | H2H: Djokovic leads 1-0
- R2: Roberto Carballes Baena | H2H: Djokovic leads 2-0
- R3: Lorenzo Musetti [32] | H2H: Djokovic leads 4-1
- R4: Tommy Paul [14] | H2H: Djokovic leads 1-0
- QF: Casper Ruud [7] | H2H: Djokovic leads 5-1
- SF: Alexander Zverev [4] | H2H: Djokovic leads 8-4
- F: Jannik Sinner [2] | H2H: Djokovic leads 4-3
Djokovic could have the Parisian support against him early on with Pierre-Hughes Herbert, Constant Lestienne and Gael Monfils all in the Serb’s section of the draw. There could also be a tricky third round contest against Lorenzo Musetti, a player Djokovic has struggled against on clay previously. A fourth round contest against Tommy Paul should warm Djokovic up for a big quarter-final against Casper Ruud. The match would be a rematch of last year’s final and also a rematch of their contest in Monte-Carlo which Ruud won. Overall it’s hard to know which Djokovic will turn up but this draw is designed to boost the world number one’s confidence as he always turns up for best of five set tennis.
[2] Jannik Sinner
Best Result: Quarter-Final (2020)
After suffering a hip injury in Madrid, Sinner will be keeping expectations low on a surface which he hasn’t had the best success on.
Sinner’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Christopher Eubanks | H2H: Sinner leads 1-0
- R2: Borna Coric | H2H: Sinner leads 1-0
- R3: Cameron Norrie [32] | H2H: First Meeting
- R4: Nicolas Jarry [16] | H2H: Jarry leads 1-0
- QF: Hubert Hurkacz [8] | H2H: Tied at 2-2
- SF: Carlos Alcaraz [3] | H2H: Tied at 4-4
- F: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 4-3
Sinner has a good draw in the first week with winnable matches and testing contests against Borna Coric and Cameron Norrie. A fourth round test against Rome finalist Nicolas Jarry could be the Italian’s most dangerous contest on his way to the semi-finals although neither Grigor Dimitrov or Hubert Hurkacz should be underestimated at this level. The Italian will fancy his chances to have his best ever performance at Roland Garros but the question remains whether he will have the fitness to go all the way in Paris.
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[3] Carlos Alcaraz
Best Result: Semi-Final (2023)
Alcaraz will look to overcome injury doubts and build on his promising performances in Madrid as he searches for a first Roland Garros title.
Alcaraz’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Qualifier | H2H: N/A
- R2: Jack Draper | H2H: Alcaraz leads 2-0
- R3: Sebastian Korda [27] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 3-1
- R4: Ben Shelton [15] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 1-0
- QF: Andrey Rublev [6] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- SF: Jannik Sinner [2] | H2H: Tied at 4-4
- F: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 3-2
Two of Alcaraz’s nearest future rivals awaits before the second week as Jack Draper and Sebastian Korda will give the Spaniard testing matches even if neither player are in the best form at the moment. A last 16 match against Felix Auger-Aliassime or Ben Shelton will further examine whether Alcaraz is ready to be Roland Garros champion before a rematch with Andrey Rublev from their match in Madrid which Rublev won. It’s a very doable draw for Alcaraz as the Spaniard looks to prove he has the physicality and stamina to go all the way in Paris and win a first Roland Garros title.
[4] Alexander Zverev
Best Result: Semi-Final (2021, 2022, 2023)
Zverev enters in fine form having won Rome and now aims to reach a fourth consecutive semi-final at Roland Garros.
Zverev’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Rafael Nadal [PR] | H2H: Nadal leads 7-3
- R2: David Goffin | H2H: Zverev leads 3-2
- R3: Tallon Griekspoor [26] | H2H: Zverev leads 3-1
- R4: Holger Rune [13] | H2H: Rune leads 1-0
- QF: Daniil Medvedev [5] | H2H: Medvedev leads 12-7
- SF: Novak Djokovic [1] | H2H: Djokovic leads 8-4
- F: Jannik Sinner [2] | H2H: Zverev leads 4-1
There is no tougher test for Zverev than facing 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal in your opening round match. The Spaniard will be highly motivated as this is likely to be his last Roland Garros so this will be a difficult test for Zverev. After that it should be fairly straightforward for Zverev to reach his fourth consecutive semi-final in Paris as Holger Rune has been out-of-form this season and Daniil Medvedev has recorded poor results at Roland Garros. Although the draw is a favourable one, that is neutralized by Zverev’s tough first round and given how poor he starts Grand Slams there is no guarantees that he will get through against a rusty Nadal.
Roland Garros starts on the 26th of May and concludes on the 9th of June.
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