By Tony Fairbairn
- Carlos Alcaraz faces tricky opening round match as he bids to defend Parisian crown
- Top Seeds: Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz
- British Interest: Jack Draper [5], Jacob Fearnley, Cameron Norrie
PARIS, FRANCE – Carlos Alcaraz will aim to defend his Roland Garros title against some strong competition including world number one Jannik Sinner.
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[1] Jannik Sinner
Best Result: Semi-Final (2024)
In his first tournament back, Sinner reached the final on home soil in Rome and now his sights set on Roland Garros glory.
Sinner’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Arthur Rinderknech | H2H: Sinner leads 2-1
- R2: Terence Atmane | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina [26] | H2H: Sinner leads 1-0
- R4: Arthur Fils [14] | H2H: Sinner leads 1-0
- QF: Jack Draper [5] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- SF: Alexander Zverev [3] | H2H: Zverev leads 4-3
- F: Carlos Alcaraz [2] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 7-4
It’s safe to say Sinner won’t be a popular man in Paris in the opening couple of rounds as the world number one will face two Frenchman in his opening two rounds. The French double act could end with Sinner playing Richard Gasquet in what is the Frenchman’s last tournament of his illustrious career. There will be severe tests for Sinner against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and the in-form Arthur Fils before a potential blockbuster quarter-final with British number one Jack Draper. Overall this is a really tough draw for Sinner which could play a significant part in how much energy Sinner has in the potential final against Alcaraz.
[2] Carlos Alcaraz
Best Result: Champion (2024)
The Spaniard is the man to beat on the red dirt having cruised through the Rome draw and will now look to defend his Roland Garros crown.
Alcaraz’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Kei Nishikori [PR] | H2H: First Meeting
- R2: Fabian Marozsan | H2H: Tied at 1-1
- R3: Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard [31] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 1-0
- R4: Ben Shelton [13] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 2-0
- QF: Casper Ruud [7] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 4-1
- SF: Taylor Fritz [4] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 2-0
- F: Jannik Sinner [1] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 7-4
A testing opening couple of rounds awaits for Alcaraz with Kei Nishikori and Fabian Marozsan expected to be awkward matches to begin the tournament. The big-serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard will test Alcaraz’s returning ability while Ben Shelton or Stefanos Tsitsipas will await in the last 16. Former finalist Casper Ruud could be the last big test for Alcaraz before a potential final with Sinner. This is a good draw for Alcaraz as long as the Spaniard can survive the early scares, the second seed will be favourite to win his second Roland Garros title.
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[3] Alexander Zverev
Best Result: Final (2024)
Zverev’s turbulent clay court season continues as an early exit in Rome and Hamburg has dented his chances of a first Grand Slam title in Paris.
Zverev’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Learner Tien | H2H: Tien leads 1-0
- R2: Jesper De Jong | H2H: Zverev leads 1-0
- R3: Felix Auger-Aliassime [29] | H2H: Zverev leads 6-2
- R4: Grigor Dimitrov [16] | H2H: Zverev leads 7-2
- QF: Novak Djokovic [6] | H2H: Djokovic leads 8-5
- SF: Jannik Sinner [1] | H2H: Zverev leads 4-3
- F: Carlos Alcaraz [2] | H2H: Zverev leads 6-5
An awkward first round awaits for Zverev in the form of American rising star Learner Tien. Should the German progress then a third round obstacle could await against the out-of-sorts Felix Auger-Aliassime. Although Grigor Dimitrov looks the more obvious fourth round meeting, the more likely opponent would be Francisco Cerundolo who he has lost to recently before a showdown with Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals. The German will struggle to find his form early on before bowing out before the quarter-finals but should the German reach the latter stages then he will believe he can win the title and rise to the occasion.
[4] Taylor Fritz
Best Result: Fourth Round (2024)
The American number one has been out of form throughout this clay court season and will need to find his best tennis if he wants to avoid a rankings drop.
Fritz’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Daniel Altmaier | H2H: First Meeting
- R2: Vit Kopriva | H2H: First Meeting
- R3: Alex Michelsen [32] | H2H: Michelsen leads 1-0
- R4: Frances Tiafoe [15] | H2H: Fritz leads 7-1
- QF: Lorenzo Musetti [8] | H2H: Musetti leads 3-2
- SF: Carlos Alcaraz [2] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 2-0
- F: Jannik Sinner [1] | H2H: Sinner leads 4-1
A very tough opening match for Fritz when the American will take on Daniel Altmaier who has beaten Sinner previously at Roland Garros. A tricky contest against Vit Kopriva will take place in the second round with Sebastian Korda potentially awaiting in the fourth round. Should Fritz get past those challenges then a blockbuster quarter-final with the in-form Lorenzo Musetti awaits. It’s tough to see Fritz get past the quarter-finals but then again the fourth seed always seems to play his best tennis when the pressure is off and it would be no surprise to see him do that again.
Roland Garros begins on the 25th of May and concludes on the eighth of June.
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