FILE–Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after profitable his males’s singles last match towards Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Court docket Philippe-Chatrier on day fifteen of the French Open tennis match on the Roland Garros Advanced in Paris on June 9, 2024. (Photograph by EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP)
PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz will open his protection of the French Open title towards veteran Kei Nishikori and mentioned he’s “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 grime in recent times.
READ: French Open: Carlos Alcaraz cautious of sharper Jannik Sinner
Alcaraz holds a 15-1 file on clay this season. Having moved again to No. 2 within the rankings, he can’t play top-ranked Jannik Sinner earlier than the ultimate in Paris as a result of they’re on reverse sides of the draw.
“It’s been a fantastic clay season to this point,” Alcaraz mentioned after Thursday’s attract Paris. “I’m excited. The arrogance is absolutely excessive proper now.”
Collectively, Alcaraz or Sinner have received the final 5 Grand Slam titles.
Again from his three-month doping suspension, Sinner pushed Alcaraz after they met within the Rome last this month, but misplaced in straight units. Sinner opens towards native hope Arthur Rinderknech.
Alcaraz beat Sinner over 5 units within the French Open semifinals final yr. Alcaraz then efficiently defended his Wimbledon title for his fourth Grand Slam trophy. Sinner has received solely one among his 19 profession titles on clay, in Umag, Croatia, in 2022 — when he beat Alcaraz within the last.
READ: Carlos Alcaraz expects French Open menace from ‘insane’ Sinner
Novak Djokovic, who lastly received a match on clay this yr on the Geneva Open on Wednesday, will face Mackenzie McDonald of the US within the first spherical. The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion received the Paris Olympics gold medal final August at Roland-Garros however has struggled on clay since then.
Sinner might run into No. 5 seed Jack Draper within the quarterfinals, with different doable matchups that includes Alexander Zverev (3) vs. Djokovic (6), Taylor Fritz (4) vs. Lorenzo Musetti (8), and Alcaraz vs. Casper Ruud (7).
Swiatek struggling
Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates after profitable a match towards Italys Elisabetta Cocciaretto through the WTA Rome Open tennis match on the Foro Italico in Rome, on Could 8, 2025. (Photograph by MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP)
Within the ladies’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 received a title or reached a last since her victory at Roland-Garros final yr. Seeded No. 5 in Paris, Swiatek will open her marketing campaign towards Rebecca Sramkova, ranked No. 41. She might meet former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu within the second spherical.
“I’m pleased with my achievements right here,” Swiatek mentioned. “I’m working onerous to be prepared. For positive this season had extra ups and downs than the years earlier than. However I do know my sport is right here.”
No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka faces Kamilla Rakhimova whereas No. 2 Coco Gauff will tackle Olivia Gadecki. An attention-grabbing matchup will pit No. 10 Paula Badosa towards four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
The doable ladies’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)
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The French Open begins on Sunday and concludes on June 8.
