Open season for men at the Roland Garros

However, heading into the French Open, it finally feels like the dawn of a new era beckons in men’s tennis as well. While Roger Federer’s career ground to a halt in 2022, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic went on to win nine of the 13 Majors between them over the last three years. But now, with Nadal struggling to find his best and Djokovic’s shocking dip in form, there’s no real favourite for the men’s singles title at a Grand Slam for the first time in 20 years.

That this likely change of guard could happen at Roland Garros makes it all the more astonishing, for it is one Slam that had the clearest favourite for the better part of this century. But Nadal and Djokovic’s troubles are only half the story. The draw this time is wide open also because of how the other contenders have fared in recent months.

“Right now, I don’t see a clear favourite to win the tournament, but there is a wide range of players who can do it,” Carlos Alcaraz said in his pre-tournament press conference. The Spanish world No.3 has been touted as the next big thing on clay since last year, when he defended his titles in Madrid and Barcelona, but he’s had to cope with a right forearm injury since winning at Indian Wells in March.