Howard Fendrich
Associated Press
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There are plenty of reasons to keep an eye on Djokovic and Nadal when the game gets underway on Sunday. These are obviously two sporting greats who have faced each other more often than all the others on the men’s side since the start of the professional era, including nine times at Roland-Garros.
Following Thursday’s draw, they could meet in the quarter-finals this year, if at all, with a possible clash against Alcaraz in the semi-finals.
Nadal is a 13-time champion in Paris, holder of a men’s record 21 Grand Slam trophies and he only recently returned from a rib injury while dealing with chronic pain in his left foot which has deprived him an appearance at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
“All of a sudden, commented Alexander Zverev, third seed, after seeing Nadal train on the spot, his forehand is 30 km / h faster. It moves more easily. There’s something about this pitch that makes him play 30% better. »
As for Djokovic, he is world No. 1, the defending champion on red clay at Roland-Garros, tied with Roger Federer at 20 major titles and he notably missed the Australian Open in January (which Nadal won) because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19. The Internationals of France and Wimbledon allow him to participate.
“Tennis fans and the biggest sports tournaments always want the best players in the world to be present,” Djokovic said. From this point of view, there is a meaning to this. »
Renewal
Still, Alcaraz — 28-3 with a season-high four titles in 2022, and already sitting sixth in the world — sparks a lot of fascination.
“He’s definitely special,” Djokovic continued. So far, he is the best player in the world, without a doubt, this year… He is a really complete player. He can play both offensively and defensively. »
It’s been brewing for a while now and reached a crescendo when Alcaraz beat Nadal, then favorite Djokovic, and finally Zverev to win the Madrid Masters in early May. Nobody had ever eliminated Djokovic and Nadal in the same tournament on clay.
Of course, there are other newsworthy stories in the next two weeks. Naomi Osaka’s return to Paris after coming out on anxiety and depression and taking a mental break a year ago; the attempt at a second Roland-Garros title by the new No. 1 Iga Swiatek while she is on a streak of 28 victories; former No. 1 Simona Halep’s new partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou, who coached Serena Williams (will she ever return to the courts?)
But nothing beats the interest aroused by Alcaraz, the player with seven consecutive victories against top-10 opponents, with the powerful serve and fluid groundstrokes, the dancer’s footwork, the drop shots served from both the forehand and in reverse.
As Djokovic said: “He is the talk of the sport. »
Part of that is because Alcaraz is the next big thing, someone seen as talented, hardworking and motivated enough to reach the top of tennis. This is also partly because he is so young, 19 on May 5; no one since fellow Spaniard Nadal in 2005 had climbed into the world top-10 so young.
“All the new things are much more interesting than the old ones, no doubt,” Nadal admitted. When you see a new car, it always looks better. When you see a new phone, it always looks better than the old one. »
Changing of the guard?
So the big question that’s been pending for some time: who will take over from the ‘Big Three’—Nadal (36 next week), Djokovic (35, Sunday, the first day of the main draw at Roland-Garros) and Federer (41 in August, after a series of right knee operations and out since Wimbledon last year)?
“The situation is changing. We are also getting older, Nadal said. The new generations are coming in force. »
Actually, not that strong.
Let’s take stock: Djokovic and Nadal have won 11 of the last 13 Grand Slam titles for men.
By contrast, the reality is quite different in women’s tennis: no player has won more than one major title in the same year since 2016. And Paris offers an example of this variety at the top: the last six winners at Roland-Garros have all won a first Grand Slam title there.
Alcaraz hopes to get his place in this select club by the end of the tournament.
So far, he has only made one quarter-final at a major tournament, at the US Open in September. He only played once at Roland-Garros, reaching the third round last year.
Alcaraz, who is coached by 2003 Roland-Garros winner Juan Carlos Ferrero, says he tries to turn everyone’s expectations of him into motivation rather than pressure.
“I’m really looking forward to going to Paris,” Alcaraz confessed, “(and) fighting for a Grand Slam. »
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Howard Fendrich
Associated Press
–
There are plenty of reasons to keep an eye on Djokovic and Nadal when the game gets underway on Sunday. These are obviously two sporting greats who have faced each other more often than all the others on the men’s side since the start of the professional era, including nine times at Roland-Garros.
Following Thursday’s draw, they could meet in the quarter-finals this year, if at all, with a possible clash against Alcaraz in the semi-finals.
Nadal is a 13-time champion in Paris, holder of a men’s record 21 Grand Slam trophies and he only recently returned from a rib injury while dealing with chronic pain in his left foot which has deprived him an appearance at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
“All of a sudden, commented Alexander Zverev, third seed, after seeing Nadal train on the spot, his forehand is 30 km / h faster. It moves more easily. There’s something about this pitch that makes him play 30% better. »
As for Djokovic, he is world No. 1, the defending champion on red clay at Roland-Garros, tied with Roger Federer at 20 major titles and he notably missed the Australian Open in January (which Nadal won) because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19. The Internationals of France and Wimbledon allow him to participate.
“Tennis fans and the biggest sports tournaments always want the best players in the world to be present,” Djokovic said. From this point of view, there is a meaning to this. »
Renewal
Still, Alcaraz — 28-3 with a season-high four titles in 2022, and already sitting sixth in the world — sparks a lot of fascination.
“He’s definitely special,” Djokovic continued. So far, he is the best player in the world, without a doubt, this year… He is a really complete player. He can play both offensively and defensively. »
It’s been brewing for a while now and reached a crescendo when Alcaraz beat Nadal, then favorite Djokovic, and finally Zverev to win the Madrid Masters in early May. Nobody had ever eliminated Djokovic and Nadal in the same tournament on clay.
Of course, there are other newsworthy stories in the next two weeks. Naomi Osaka’s return to Paris after coming out on anxiety and depression and taking a mental break a year ago; the attempt at a second Roland-Garros title by the new No. 1 Iga Swiatek while she is on a streak of 28 victories; former No. 1 Simona Halep’s new partnership with Patrick Mouratoglou, who coached Serena Williams (will she ever return to the courts?)
But nothing beats the interest aroused by Alcaraz, the player with seven consecutive victories against top-10 opponents, with the powerful serve and fluid groundstrokes, the dancer’s footwork, the drop shots served from both the forehand and in reverse.
As Djokovic said: “He is the talk of the sport. »
Part of that is because Alcaraz is the next big thing, someone seen as talented, hardworking and motivated enough to reach the top of tennis. This is also partly because he is so young, 19 on May 5; no one since fellow Spaniard Nadal in 2005 had climbed into the world top-10 so young.
“All the new things are much more interesting than the old ones, no doubt,” Nadal admitted. When you see a new car, it always looks better. When you see a new phone, it always looks better than the old one. »
Changing of the guard?
So the big question that’s been pending for some time: who will take over from the ‘Big Three’—Nadal (36 next week), Djokovic (35, Sunday, the first day of the main draw at Roland-Garros) and Federer (41 in August, after a series of right knee operations and out since Wimbledon last year)?
“The situation is changing. We are also getting older, Nadal said. The new generations are coming in force. »
Actually, not that strong.
Let’s take stock: Djokovic and Nadal have won 11 of the last 13 Grand Slam titles for men.
By contrast, the reality is quite different in women’s tennis: no player has won more than one major title in the same year since 2016. And Paris offers an example of this variety at the top: the last six winners at Roland-Garros have all won a first Grand Slam title there.
Alcaraz hopes to get his place in this select club by the end of the tournament.
So far, he has only made one quarter-final at a major tournament, at the US Open in September. He only played once at Roland-Garros, reaching the third round last year.
Alcaraz, who is coached by 2003 Roland-Garros winner Juan Carlos Ferrero, says he tries to turn everyone’s expectations of him into motivation rather than pressure.
“I’m really looking forward to going to Paris,” Alcaraz confessed, “(and) fighting for a Grand Slam. »
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