The Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, the Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the Chilean Cristian Garin embody the new generation. Talented, ambitious, determined to shine without delay during the French Open.
The Polish Iga Swiatek, titled last year at the age of 19 or the Italian Jannik Sinner (symbol of a promising and uninhibited transalpine generation) who had held up for two sets in the quarter-finals in a match that was finished by candlelight just before 1:30 a.m. marked the 2020 edition of the French Open, a tournament that fell into gray by accident, due to the pandemic but which had managed to afford unexpected moments. Like Ugo Gaston who had sowed the amortizations, as if by magic, eliminated Stan Wawrinka and made Dominic Thiem tremble. This year, surprises could flourish. Small selection of those who, already known or at the dawn of their career, could shine.
Leylah Fernandez (Canada, 18; 69e world). Canadian tennis is doing well. After Felix Auger Aliassime (who often advised her), Denis Shapovalov and Bianca Andreescu, Leylah Fernandez (winner of Rokand-Garros juniors in 2019, which was the first title in a major youth tournament for Canadian tennis since Eugenie Bouchard at Wimbledon in 2012) shines. An ambitious player who last year told RDS her desire to continue climbing the steps of the hierarchy and, in 2021, aim for “the top 10.” Her father Jorge was inspired by Richard Williams, father of Venus and Serena Williams, to guide his daughters Leylah and Bianca to tennis. About Leylah, the eldest, left-handed with a small stature, with determination pegged to the body, he had once explained Jorge to La Presse: “I showed him the best champions in the world who are not taller than the norm. . In fact, which are smaller than the norm. I started with Mike Tyson. He was a heavyweight, but he was small. Messi is very small, but he’s a monster internationally. I also showed him Floyd Mayweathyer. ” At 1is turn, she will meet Russian Anastasia Potapova (78e).
Veronika Kudermetova (Russia, 24 years old; 30e world). Daughter of an international ice hockey player, Veronika Kudermetova took advantage of Moscow’s infrastructure and admired Maria Sharapova when she was young. Before getting caught up in the game and, “ambitious”, climbing the steps of the hierarchy. In April, the Russian won the first tournament of her career in Charleston. Without losing a set. A first in the American tournament since Serena Williams in 2012. Her coach and husband Sergei Demekhine accompanied Vera Zvenareva (former world No. 2, Wimbledon and US Open finalist in 2010). From the 1is turn, Veronika Kudermetova will cross the American Amanda Anisimova (19 years; 41e World), the revelation of the 2019 French Open. After eliminating Simona Halep in the quarter-finals, she had long upset Ashleigh Barty …
Clara Tauson (Denmark, 18; 90e world). Winner of the 2019 Junior Australian Open, Clara Tauson rehearses her ranges at the Justine Henin Academy. The Dane created a surprise in Lyon, coming out of qualifying before… winning the tournament in March. His first WTA title. Clara Tauson had distinguished herself at Roland-Garros last year by going out at 1is round (for her first appearance in a Grand Slam table) American Jennifer Brady (# 21) 9-7 to 3e set, after having discarded two match points). At 1is turn, she has an appointment with Georgian Ekaterine Gordoze (222e world).
Carlos Alcaraz (Spain, 18 years old; 94e worldwide). His early successes quickly propelled him to the fore, dubbed “the new Nadal”. The weight of the comparisons does not frighten the young Spaniard. The pupil of Juan Carlos Ferrero (winner in Paris in 2003) continues his apprenticeship. Sometimes in pain like when Rafael Nadal himself blew out the candles of his 18e anniversary and completely extinguished it in Madrid (6-1, 6-2 to 2e tour), in May. Carlos Alcaraz, physically and mentally solid had impressed for his first steps in Grand Slam (out of qualifying, he had reached the 2e round of the Australian Open in February, stopped by Mikael Ymer). He registered as the youngest player to enter the Top 100 since Coric (aged 17, in 2014) and the second youngest in the history of Spanish tennis (behind… Nadal, 16, in 2003). His opponent at 1is turn will be his compatriot Bernabe Zapata Miralles (128e worldwide).
Cristian Garin (Chile, 24 years old; 23e worldwide). He dominated Alexander Zverev on the road to the junior title at Roland Garros in 2013. The Chilean is a clay court player. On this surface he won his 5 titles on the circuit (the last this year in Santiago). He is solid in decisive moments (tie breaks, break points). He is coached by Franco Davin, who was the coach of Gaston Gaudio and Juan Martin Del Potro. Cristian Garin has not yet found the key in Grand Slam (his best performance remains a 3e turn reached last year at… Roland-Garros). At 1is turn, the Chilean has an appointment with the Argentinian Juan Ignacio Londero (100e worldwide).
Casper Ruud (Norway, 22; 16e worldwide). A fit man. The Norwegian Casper Ruud, semi-finalist in Monte-Carlo, Munich and Geneva, completed his preparation on earth with a title in Geneva. Which earned him the best ranking of his career. Better than his father and trainer Christian (who was 39th place in the ATP ranking, finalist at Bastad in 1995, 8e finalist of the Australian Open 1997) which was the tennis benchmark in Norway, ended his career when Roger Federer started his career… At 1is Turn, Casper Ruud will find on his way, a player in search of landmarks, in need of sensations, Benoît Paire.
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