tennis
French Open without a king: who will inherit Nadal?
Novak Djokovic (l) of Serbia and Carlos Alcaraz of Spain walk side by side during a training session for the 2023 French Open. Photo
© Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
Since 2005, the winner of the French Open was not named Rafael Nadal just four times. Without the Dominator, the men’s clay court classic is more open than it has been for a long time.
The posters of a streaming provider not far from Stade Roland Garros are still advertising Rafael Nadal. But for the first time since 2004, the French Open will take place without their king.
Since then, the 36-year-old has won the title an unequaled 14 times – and suffered only three sporting defeats. “Without him there could be a new winner, who knows? With him, the chance was small – or much smaller,” said world number two Daniil Medvedev before the start of the Grand Slam tournament on Sunday. “So it’s definitely a different tournament.”
Just over a week ago, Nadal canceled this edition of the clay court classic due to persistent hip problems – and directly announced the end of his career for the coming year. Statements that also left a wistful feeling with his Spanish compatriot Carlos Alcaraz. “I felt bad when I heard that Rafa can’t play here at Roland Garros and probably the rest of the year. As a tennis fan, I always want to see Rafa play,” said the 20-year-old in Paris. “I hope we’ll see him back here at 100 percent next year.”
But who has the best chance of following Nadal as the winner of the men’s competition this year? An overview of the most promising candidates:
Carlos Alcaráz
The young star was actually considered a possible crown prince by Nadal last year, but had to admit defeat to Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. At the US Open, Alcaraz secured his first Grand Slam title and became the youngest number one in the tennis world. Struggling with injuries early in his career, he is the top favorite despite the recent sensational loss to Hungarian qualifier Fabian Marozsan in Rome.
20 years/Spain/1 Grand Slam title/best result French Open: Quarterfinals 2022
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic achieved what was otherwise only granted to the Swede Robin Söderling in 2009: a victory over Nadal on the pitch at the French Open – and even twice. With this edition, the Serb can secure the only record for Grand Slam titles with his 23rd triumph, which he currently shares with Nadal. “That’s Novak’s reason why he still plays tennis,” said his former coach Boris Becker. “It’s the ultimate challenge to become the most successful player in tennis history. Personally, I wish him that he achieves that.”
36 years/Serbia/22 Grand Slam titles/best result French Open: win 2016, 2021
Daniel Medvedev
Sand is actually the unloved surface for Medvedev. Four times at the beginning of the career there was a first-round loss in Roland Garros. But now, shortly before the start of the French Open, he won his first title ever on ashes at the Masters 1000 tournament in Rome. After a rather weaker year in 2022, the Russian is in much better shape. Is this related to the birth of his first daughter? “I don’t want to say that I’ve grown up because I don’t know if that’s true,” Medvedev said with a smile in Paris. In the quarter-finals there could be a duel with Zverev, who is not on the list of favorites given the current crisis in form.
27 years/Russia/1 Grand Slam title/best result French Open: quarter-finals 2022
Casper Ruud
Last year, Ruud challenged Nadal as a surprise finalist – and, like so many before him, experienced a lesson. The Norwegian won a total of six games. Ruud also made it to the final at the US Open, but cannot repeat his performances this year. The Dane Holger Rune, who is four years his junior and whom Ruud defeated in the quarter-finals last year, could also go very far.
24 years/Norway/0 Grand Slam titles/best result French Open: final 2022