PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz will open his protection of the French Open title towards veteran Kei Nishikori and stated he is excited to be again in Paris on the again of a superb clay-court season.
Alcaraz has been the dominant participant within the weeks resulting in Roland-Garros and is the clear-cut favourite after claiming trophies in Barcelona and Rome. Nishikori is a former top-five participant who has been struggling on the filth lately.
Alcaraz holds a 15-1 report on clay this season. Having moved again to No. 2 within the rankings, he cannot play top-ranked Jannik Sinner earlier than the ultimate in Paris as a result of they’re on reverse sides of the draw.
“It has been an excellent clay season up to now,” Alcaraz stated after Thursday’s attract Paris. “I am excited. The arrogance is absolutely excessive proper now.”
Collectively, Alcaraz or Sinner have gained the final 5 Grand Slam titles.
Again from his three-month doping suspension, Sinner pushed Alcaraz once they met within the Rome remaining this month, but misplaced in straight units. Sinner opens towards native hope Arthur Rinderknech.
Alcaraz beat Sinner in 5 units within the French Open semifinals final 12 months. Alcaraz then efficiently defended his Wimbledon title for his fourth Grand Slam trophy. Sinner has gained solely one in every of his 19 profession titles on clay, in Umag, Croatia, in 2022, when he beat Alcaraz within the remaining.
Novak Djokovic, who lastly gained a match on clay this 12 months on the Geneva Open on Wednesday, will face Mackenzie McDonald of the USA within the first spherical. The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion gained the Paris Olympics gold medal final August at Roland-Garros however has struggled on clay since then.
Sinner may run into No. 5 seed Jack Draper within the quarterfinals, with different potential matchups that includes Alexander Zverev (3) vs. Djokovic (6), Taylor Fritz (4) vs. Lorenzo Musetti (8), and Alcaraz vs. Casper Ruud (7).
Within the girls’s draw, four-time champion Iga Swiatek continues to be looking for her finest type.
She has dropped exterior the highest 4 and has not gained a title or reached a remaining since her victory at Roland-Garros final 12 months. Seeded No. 5 in Paris, Swiatek will open her marketing campaign towards Rebecca Sramkova, ranked No. 41. She may meet 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu within the second spherical.
“I am pleased with my achievements right here,” Swiatek stated. “I am working onerous to be prepared. For positive this season had extra ups and downs than the years earlier than. However I do know my recreation is right here.”
No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka faces Kamilla Rakhimova, and No. 2 Coco Gauff will tackle Olivia Gadecki. An fascinating matchup will pit No. 10 Paula Badosa towards four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
The potential girls’s quarterfinals are Sabalenka towards No. 8 Qinwen Zheng, last-year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini towards Swiatek, Jessica Pegula (3) vs. Mirra Andreeva (6), and Gauff towards Madison Keys (7)
The French Open begins Sunday and concludes on June 8.
