PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz will open his defence of the French Open title in opposition to 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.”
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 last this month, but misplaced in straight units. Sinner opens in opposition to native hope Arthur Rinderknech and will meet three-time champion Novak Djokovic within the semifinals.
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 gained solely certainly one of his 19 profession titles on clay, in Umag, Croatia, in 2022 — when he beat Alcaraz within the last.
Djokovic, who lastly gained a match on clay this yr 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 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).
Within the girls’s draw, four-time champion Iga Swiatek remains to be trying to find her greatest kind.
She has dropped exterior the highest 4 and has not gained 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 in opposition to Rebecca Sramkova, ranked No. 41. She might meet former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu within the second spherical.
“I am pleased with my achievements right here,” Swiatek stated. “I am working laborious 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 whereas No. 2 Coco Gauff will tackle Olivia Gadecki. An fascinating matchup will pit No. 10 Paula Badosa in opposition to four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
The doable girls’s quarterfinals are Sabalenka in opposition to No. 8 Qinwen Zheng, last-year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini in opposition to Swiatek, Jessica Pegula (3) vs. Mirra Andreeva (6), and Gauff in opposition to Madison Keys (7).
The French Open begins on Sunday and concludes on June 8.
