PARIS: Injuries and slippery form have given the Roland Garros men’s draw a wide-open look. Everybody is in it.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic has had an indifferent start to the season. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, the second and third seeds here, have battled injury woes in the lead-up to the clay court Grand Slam, and 14-time champion Rafael Nadal returns to this ochre-hued carpet after a gap of 24 months, in the winter of a storied career.
Sinner, unruly crown and committed approach, came through 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 against American Christopher Eubanks on Monday, and promptly raised the ante. Eubanks, fluid service action, and an ability to think on his feet, repeatedly asked the questions in the 2-hours-and-9-minute affair.
It was a rain-hit day in Paris, it came and went like a wavering radio signal. The skies were a mix of blue and grey, the ubiquitous threat of disruption hanging over the venue.
The freshly minted roof over Court Suzanne-Lenglen was on standby for the day’s first feature match of the day.
Sinner’s play - 33 winners and 24 unforced errors, 61 percent of first serves – reflected some of the rust, which was the coloring of his collarless tee.
The Italian, who took the court with a Gucci bag, was cheered on by his rumored girlfriend WTA Pro Anna Kalinskaya, said the hip is 100 percent.
Sinner, showing no sign of the hip injury that forced him to miss the Rome Masters, was ahead 4-1 after just 16 minutes of play.
The 22-year-old attacked the American’s single-hander with the precision of a marksman. As the match progressed, Eubanks settled down and pushed back, to his credit, Sinner, who was flirting with the lines, came up with adequate responses.
“The hip seems good. I'm very happy about that,” Sinner said. “The general shape, as I said before, is not where I want to be, but it takes time. I also had a long period without practice. So it's all normal. In my mind I know I will struggle, but in the other way, I'm happy to be here.”
Sinner, who is in the race for the world No.1 ranking with Novak Djokovic, is aware of the equation.
“At the moment, I'm not thinking about that. I'm just looking forward to competing. We can practice a lot, but without competition, it's not so much fun,’ Sinner said. “I know the scenarios (for the world No.1 ranking), but it's not about ranking at the moment.”
