Specific Sport readers agree with Novak Djokovic and John McEnroe that Carlos Alcaraz is the favorite for this yr’s French Open. Rafael Nadal, a 14-time champion on the Grand Slam, is absent which has blown the boys’s draw vast open. And regardless of Djokovic being the one different man bar Nadal to win the match within the final seven years, Alcaraz is extensively being backed to reign supreme in Paris.
Djokovic’s build-up to Roland Garros has been disappointing as a result of damage. He suffered early defeats in Monte Carlo and Banja Luka earlier than being outdone by Holger Rune within the quarter-finals in Rome. In the meantime world No 1 Alcaraz gained the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open, though he misplaced his second match on the Italian Open.
The Spaniard is establishing himself because the successor to Nadal because the ‘King of Clay’. Djokovic, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, has himself labelled Alcaraz because the “largest favorite” to win the Parisian Slam. He stated: “We have a look at the previous few months and the sort of form and the shape that he is having and that I am having, I feel he is a barely larger favorite.”
Equally, seven-time main winner John McEnroe stated: “I’d say Alcaraz could be the slight favorite to win this. Alcaraz has plenty of strain now as a result of he is simply such an unbelievable breath of contemporary air. He is so electrical, the best way he performs, he is obtained such an excellent persona that individuals need him to win.”
And Specific Sport readers agree with the pair. In a ballot that attracted over 3,500 voters, an enormous 53 per cent named Alcaraz as their favorite with Nadal absent. Djokovic in the meantime was clearly second after incomes 28 per cent of the votes.
Behind the pair, Daniil Medvedev was named the third favorite with an 11 per cent share of the votes. Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas each earned simply 4 per cent every, with Rune one other outdoors candidate to win together with Alexander Zverev.
Alcaraz stated on the weekend: “It is nonetheless loopy to see myself in high one seed in a Grand Slam. However for me, at identical time is nice. Is one thing that I work for to be there. Yeah, I am actually pleased to be No 1 seed right here in Roland Garros.
“I felt unhealthy once I hear that Rafa, he was not capable of play right here in Roland Garros and possibly the remainder of the yr. As a fan of tennis, I at all times watch Rafa taking part in. I at all times wish to watch one of the best gamers on this planet taking part in the tournaments.
“And naturally studying from them actually shut, right here within the locker rooms across the match for me is nice. After I hear that, for me, it was robust, you already know, to know the way it’s gonna be with out Rafa this yr.”
Whereas Djokovic – who can develop into the one man ever to win 23 Slams – stated: “Historical past being on the road is one thing that could be very flattering and could be very motivating, little doubt about it. Clearly Nadal not taking part in within the match here’s a huge loss for tennis, is a giant loss for Roland Garros, as a result of he is by far probably the most profitable participant to play on this match within the historical past.
“So in fact it opens up, you already know, an opportunity and alternative for the remainder of us to attempt to get a title, as a result of each time he performs he is an absolute favorite right here or any clay court docket match, for that matter. You might have huge names like Alcaraz, he is No 1 on this planet, and possibly the largest favorite within the match.
“Tsitsipas and Medvedev, they’ve began taking part in nice on clay. And Rune, Ruud, Zverev, is aware of find out how to play huge occasions, can at all times do injury towards anyone. So I feel the match is kind of open, to be trustworthy. Possibly just a few guys which can be on the high of the favourites listing, however anybody can take it. I am hoping it may be me.”