Roland-Garros 2023: the players to follow

In the absence of the king Rafael Nadal and his 14 titles, the pretenders to the throne are legion, but two names stand out.

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Carlos Alcaraz the heir. The Spaniard, barely 20 years old, winner of his first Grand Slam title at the US Open last year, could afford a first coronation on Parisian clay.

The youngest world number 1 in history, quarter-finalist Porte d’Auteuil in 2022, won in Barcelona and Madrid in the pre-season, but remains on a defeat against the Hungarian Fabian Marozsan (115^e world), when he entered the running in Rome. This misstep does not prevent him from advancing as a favorite just ahead of the essential Djokovic. The two men could meet in the semi-finals for a clash of generations.

Read alsoTennis: Carlos Alcaraz makes a successful return to earth

Novak Djokovic in the unknown. The world number 3, winner of his 22^e Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, shows little certainty at the moment. Absent from the American tour due to his non-vaccination for Covid-19, he accumulated poor performances on ocher by falling from 8^es finals in Monte-Carlo and in the quarter-finals of the Banja Luka and Rome tournaments. His discomfort in his right elbow could play tricks on him. But, in Grand Slam, you should never underestimate the insatiable Serbian.

Iga Swiatek with a hint of concern. The Polish remains the favorite in her own succession, even if she does not arrive at Roland-Garros with as much confidence as last year, with a series of 29 consecutive successes. His retirement on May 17, in the quarter-finals in Rome, for discomfort in the right thigh, raised some concerns. Before her retirement, she had won the Stuttgart tournament and played in a final in Madrid, beaten by her main opponent, Aryna Sabalenkawinner of the last Australian Open.

The French

The hopes of the tricolor rest mainly on the 5th player in the world Caroline Garcia. But the most awaited Frenchwoman Porte d’Auteuil does not show great confidence before the big meeting (see page 43). Number 2 Alize Cornet59th in the world, has had a string of disappointments since the start of the season.

The (small) blue spark could be caused by the new generation embodied by Diane Parry (3rd round in 2022) and Clara Burel fit for the past few weeks. Before the end of qualifying, they were already nineteen tricolors guaranteed to be on the starting line of the men’s main draw. It remains to be seen how many will be in the second week…

Last year alone Hugo Gaston, often at ease on Parisian clay and former 8th finalist (2020), and the now retired Gilles Simon had reached the 3rd round. Seeing a Blue in the round of 16 would be almost a feat, because for the second year in a row, none of them are seeded Porte d’Auteuil in the men’s table.

If they are still eleven in the top 100, the highest ranked, Ugo Humbert, points only to 38th place in the world. The Messin, who is playing his 5th Roland-Garros in the big picture, will already try to grab a first victory…

Read alsoTennis: Humbert corrects Gasquet and goes to the final in Bordeaux

One certainty: there will be at least three French people in the 2nd round since three 100% tricolor matches will take place at the start. For their part, the young shoots Luca van Assche and Arthur Fils18, hopes to gain some experience for their first in the temple of clay.

Discoveries

Ben Shelton, rising star. The left-hander is part of the new wave of American tennis (13 players in the top 100). At 20, the quarter-finalist of the last Australian Open is slowly settling in. 547th in May 2022, he points a year later to 35th place in the world. And catches the light.

His father Bryan was 55th in the world in 1992, he became one of the ambassadors of the “On” brand, of which Roger Federer is a shareholder. He will discover Roland-Garros, without landmarks (5 defeats in 7 matches on clay in two months).

Jiri Lehecka, Berdych 2.0. The Czech had never won a Grand Slam match before reaching the quarter-finals of the last Australian Open, dismissing Coric, Norrie and Auger-Aliassime. Since February, the one who sometimes trains with his compatriot Tomas Berdych, continues his learning. Semi-finalist in Doha after beating Rublev, he is still looking for consistency.

Varvara Gracheva, la ligne bleue. The Russian, who has been training since 2016 in Cannes, has taken steps to obtain French nationality. At 22, she is ranked 44th in the world and has already played in 10 Grand Slam tournaments (including 3 at Roland-Garros, where she reached the 3rd round in 2021 and 2022). Gracheva has this year dominated two players in the top 10: the Russian Daria Kasatkina at the Australian Open, the Tunisian Ons Jabeur in Miami, and was a finalist in Austin.

Alicia Parks, flames in the racket. The American (22 years old, 49th) less precocious than her compatriot Coco Gauff, discovers herself. Titled in Lyon in February (at the expense of Caroline Garcia), her first WTA trophy, she is playing her first Roland-Garros. Spectacular, it is based on a powerful service, flashed up to 208 km/h.

Read alsoTennis: Russian Varvara Gracheva should soon obtain French naturalization

Les outsiders

Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek revolves around. Finalist in 2021 (he led 2 sets 0 against Novak Djokovic), finalist of the last Australian Open (also dominated by the Serb), the Greek invites himself as one of the headliners of the tournament. But his untitled spring has been less dizzying than the past two years.

Holger Rune, the strong head. Cap turned upside down, gait decided, look of fire, the tempestuous Dane confirms his talent week after week. He notably won twice in a row against Djokovic (in the final at Paris-Bercy and in the quarterfinals in Rome). Titled in Munich, finalist in Monte-Carlo and Rome, the promising quarter-finalist last year wants to take the opportunity to show that he has changed in dimension.

Daniil Medvedev-Andrey Rublev, a Russian duo to break the lock. Titled in Rome, Medvedev has finally overcome his earth sickness (where he only had a 52.8% success rate) and Andrey Rublev, winner of his first Masters 1000 in Monte-Carlo, would like to break the curse of the quarters of Grand Slam finals (no victory in seven attempts).

Elena Rybakina, 3rd female. The Kazakh, winner of Wimbledon in 2022, finalist of the last Australian Open, has established herself as a safe bet, never missing an opportunity to break the domination of the Swiatek-Sabalenka duo. In recent weeks, she has capped the crown in Indian Wells and Rome.

Coco Gauff has everything of a (very) great. Propelled phenomenon since an 8th final at Wimbledon at 15 years old, the American has been able to resist the weight of waiting. Last year, she lit up the fortnight with her freshness (unfortunate finalist in the ladies’ singles and doubles).