The second Grand Slam event of the tennis season is right around the corner: Roland Garros.
With Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the French Open due to injury, Jannik Sinner is the overwhelming favourite to go all the way.
However, Sinner’s Australian Open conqueror, Novak Djokovic, will of course be a threat, despite the Serb having played just one match on clay this year.
Djokovic crashed out in his opening match at the Italian Open to Dino Prizmic and has since decided not to feature at the Geneva Open, which he won last year before making the semifinals at Roland Garros.
How concerned are you about Novak Djokovic heading into Roland Garros?
While the 24-time major winner has a chance of emerging victorious at Roland Garros, former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski thinks his best opportunity of clinching number 25 will come at Wimbledon.
Greg Rusedski discusses Novak Djokovic’s chances at Roland Garros
Discussing Djokovic‘s preparation for Roland Garros in an episode of ‘Off Court with Greg‘, Rusedski said: “He’s going to try to get as many reps as he can. He’s going to get there early.
“It depends on how much you enjoy being in Paris. So some people will get there on the Wednesday, Thursday, some will get there on the Monday.
“And for Novak, you can never discount. The thing which I was concerned about with Novak in Rome, he’s talked about the body and managing the body. There seems to be some issue there physically, that he’s not able to do what he wants to do yet.
“Because if his body was allowing him to do what he wanted to do, he would probably have played this week, I’m assuming, because he has to defend the title in Geneva. So obviously, the body is not where it’s at.
“And he’s going to have to hope that his draw works well, where he can work himself into form in the first week.
Can any of these four players stop Jannik Sinner winning the French Open this year?
Is there anyone else you think could be a threat to Sinner?
“Because it’s going to be rough to defend those semis, the way Medvedev is playing, the way Ruud is playing, the way Sinner is playing, all these other guys kind of bouncing back. But once Novak gets that head of steam, you can never discount him.
“And ultimately, we talked about it many times at the beginning of the year. We talked about it in the middle of the year. The goal for him is Wimbledon this year. That’s where he thinks I can get number 25.
“And with Carlos out, I don’t think Carlos is going to be back for Wimbledon this year. I think that’s where Djokovic was thinking, okay, that’s where I want to be. That’s where I want to be as healthy as possible.
“But I’m going to try to get my reps in through Paris, maybe play a few tournaments on the grass, and then peak for Wimbledon.
“Never discount him. If Novak’s healthy and the body’s there, he can beat anybody. He’s still that good. But it kind of feels like this is crunch time moments coming up in the next few weeks.”
Greg Rusedski says tennis misses Carlos Alcaraz right now
Alcaraz has ruled himself out of Roland Garros, but has not yet set a target date for his return to tour-level action.
“We always miss Carlos, but he’s doing the right thing,” said Rusedski. “Health is your wealth.
“He doesn’t want to be like Juan Martin del Potro, who came back too early, too many wrist injuries, never managed to fulfil his huge potential. What a great player we lost there for long periods of time. Until he’s ready, he won’t be back.
“But I’m enjoying this Sinner roll, I have to say. Everybody’s going to like, okay, he’s going to win this, he’s going to win that.
“Well, Medvedev nearly knocked on the door, and I like to watch greatness. So yes, we miss Carlos Alcaraz. Yes, it’s better for tennis when he’s there. But for me, it’s fascinating because Sinner was gone last year for three months. Remember that?
“After he won the Australian Open, he didn’t come back till Rome. Nobody was talking about Sinner being away so much.
“We’re talking more about Alcaraz being away than we were about Sinner who came back in a flash and made finals in Rome last year and then went on that terror finals in France, won Wimbledon.
“So when Alcaraz comes back, I have a feeling he’s going to come back like a missile as well and just start playing some great tennis.
“Because this rivalry, he’s going to be sitting there thinking, especially if Yannick wins the French, then going into Wimbledon, we’ve got that rivalry. Who’s going to get more slams? And you don’t achieve what these guys achieve without being super competitive.
“I’m sure he’s watching the tennis on TV, having a good time as well. But he wants to get back, but he’s not going to get back until he’s 100% healthy.”
Alcaraz will drop 2000 ATP points with his withdrawal from Roland Garros, having won the tournament for a second time last year.
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