The decision by Rafael Nadal to withdraw from the French Open due to injury has created a sense of unpredictability in the men's tournament, setting up one of the most uncertain editions in nearly two decades. However, a new generation led by world number one Carlos Alcaraz is ready to seize this rare opportunity.
Nadal, the record 14-time champion at the clay court Grand Slam since his first victory in 2005, cited a lingering hip issue that has plagued his season since the Australian Open. The Spaniard also revealed his plans to retire after the 2024 campaign.
As Roland Garros prepares for an unusual edition without the presence of the 22-time major champion, another tenacious Spaniard has emerged as a top contender, determined to keep a Grand Slam title out of Novak Djokovic's hands.
Alcaraz's path to a potential Paris crown was paved with triumphs in Barcelona and Madrid. Despite a minor setback in Rome, the 20-year-old finds himself back at the top of the rankings for the third time, having reached the summit after winning last year's US Open.
Recognizing Alcaraz's remarkable form, Djokovic, who aims to secure his 23rd major title, sees the young Spaniard as the man to beat.
"A new generation is here already," said Djokovic, the Serb tennis maestro. "Obviously, he's playing amazing tennis. It's also good for our sport that we have new faces. We've been saying for years that we can expect that moment to come when you have a shift of generations. I'm personally still trying to hang in there with all of them. I still have the hunger to keep going. Let's see how far I'm going to play."
Djokovic's preparation for the second Grand Slam of the season has been far from ideal, marked by disruptions in his schedule. Due to his refusal to take the COVID vaccine, he missed the Masters tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. An elbow issue further hindered his participation in Madrid, while physical problems in Rome led to an unexpected defeat against Danish player Holger Rune, who finished as the runner-up to Daniil Medvedev.
Despite acknowledging the need for a new generation to shine, Djokovic remains a formidable force in the competition.
Munich champion Holger Rune picked Djokovic as his favourite to win a third Paris title, stating, "If I have to pick one favourite, I'll probably pick Novak. But it's more open because we don't have Rafa this year. Medvedev has been showing good signs in this clay season... For sure, he's one of the favourites."
Medvedev's transformation on a surface he once admitted disliking coincides with an outstanding year for the Russian former world number one. Having clinched five titles and finishing as the runner-up at Indian Wells, Medvedev's quarter-final appearance in Paris last year demonstrates his ability to perform well on clay. Fluent in French, he is likely to receive support from the local fans, who will also celebrate the 40th anniversary of Yannick Noah's title, despite slim hopes of a homegrown champion this year.
Casper Ruud, last year's runner-up, has recently rediscovered his best form by winning the Estoril title and reaching the semi-finals in Rome. Andrey Rublev, the Monte Carlo champion, is also among the contenders aiming to make an impact. Stefanos Tsitsipas, who fell to Djokovic in the 2021 title clash, continues his pursuit of a first
(With inputs from Reuters)
