Record champion Rafael Nadal is locked in an all-time Grand Slam battle with world primary Novak Djokovic going into the French Open however each may find yourself being upstaged by teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz.
Nadal, a 13-time title-winner on the Parisian purple clay, is way from his unstoppable finest as he nurses a persistent foot damage that flared up once more within the build-up to Roland Garros.
The Australian Open champion suffered early exits in Madrid and Rome together with his most up-to-date event win again in February.
Counting out the wounded 35-year-old Spaniard, nevertheless, comes with a danger warning as his comeback win from two units down over Russia’s Daniil Medvedev proved at this yr’s Australian Open ultimate.
Nadal’s astounding triumph meant he grew to become the primary male participant to succeed in 21 Grand Slam titles, pulling forward of Roger Federer and Djokovic on the all-time record.
Djokovic, who had missed the Australian Open following his refusal to be vaccinated for COVID-19 and his subsequent deportation amid a media frenzy, is determined to win in Paris and pull degree with Nadal’s main haul.
The Serb, who additionally turns 35 later this week, seems to be again on observe after his turbulent begin to the yr, clinching the title in Rome final week with a straight units win over Greek world quantity 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Djokovic can also be no stranger to comebacks on the massive stage, profitable the title in Paris final yr after battling from two units right down to outlast Tsitsipas.
The Greek, who thrives on this floor having received his final three titles on clay, has lengthy been tipped as a Grand Slam winner and got here agonisingly shut final yr.
But he will even be wanting over his shoulder on the 19-year-old Alcaraz who seems set to leap the queue.
The teenager has taken the tennis world by storm this yr with 4 titles, together with in Miami and Madrid, and can arrive in Paris established as one of many title favourites.
The big-smiling Spaniard, a qualifier solely 12 months in the past, could look shocked by his progress this yr however he reveals no indicators or curiosity of slowing down as he storms up the world rankings.
“Yes, I am ready to win a Grand Slam and to go for it,” the world quantity six stated, who beat each Nadal and Djokovic en path to the Madrid title earlier in May. “It is a goal for me this year, to try to get my first Grand Slam. Let’s see what is going to happen at Roland Garros.”
,
With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
