Tennis Opportunity Abounds as Nadal, Djokovic and Alcaraz Face Challenges at French Open
The 2023 French Open is shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable Grand Slam events in recent memory, as several top Tennis stars face health and form concerns heading into the clay-court major.
“Tennis is in a super competitive spot right now,” said Canadian player Denis Shapovalov. “It’s super entertaining to be a part of.”
The Legendary Trio Faces Challenges
The list of French Open contenders has long been headlined by the legendary Rafael Nadal, who claimed his 14th Roland Garros title just last year. However, the 37-year-old Spaniard is showing signs of age, having suffered a series of recent injuries. Nadal arrives in Paris this year after a surprising second-round loss to Hubert Hurkacz at the Rome Masters.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, the defending champion, hasn’t reached a final at any event in 2023. The Serbian star fell to World No. 44 Tomas Machac in the Geneva semifinals just this week.
Meanwhile, Australian Open champion and World No. 2 Jannik Sinner admitted he’s “not in the shape he’d prefer” heading to Paris due to a hip injury that forced him to miss both the Madrid and Rome clay-court events. World No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz has also been limited by a right forearm issue, playing just one tournament since March.
“It’s the closest it’s ever been, especially with Alcaraz and Sinner being a big question mark now with their health,” Shapovalov noted. “I think going into the French it’s a big question mark for everyone.”
The Young Guns Seize Their Opportunity
Despite the uncertainty, the oddsmakers still favor the young guns, with Alcaraz (+270) leading the way at FanDuel, followed by Djokovic (+340) and Sinner (+470). Rome champion Alexander Zverev (+700) and Monte-Carlo winner Stefanos Tsitsipas (+950) are also among the top contenders.
Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime, seeded 21st, is hopeful of making a deep run after reaching the fourth round in 2022. “The body is feeling good,” the 23-year-old said. “The head is feeling good, which is obviously, we all know, very important.”
Shapovalov, meanwhile, is working his way back up the rankings after an injury-plagued 2022 season. “I feel like I’m playing well,” the 25-year-old said. “I definitely feel like I’m close to having a run.”
Joining Auger-Aliassime and Shapovalov in the main draw is 22-year-old Canadian qualifier Gabriel Diallo, who is set to make his Grand Slam debut against former World No. 4 Kei Nishikori.
With the top stars facing fitness concerns and the young guns eager to seize their opportunity, the 2023 French Open promises to be a wide-open and highly competitive affair.
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