The Clay Court Season: What to Expect from the Tennis Elite

Between April 7th and 14th, the elite of the tennis world will face each other at the Monte Carlo Masters. A treat for spectators, but this is just the start of a promising clay court season.

Whether the Masters in Madrid (April 24th to May 5th), the Masters in Rome (May 8th to May 19th), the French Open (May 26th to June 9th live and on-demand at discovery+) or that Olympic tennis tournament in Paris (July 27th to August 4th live and on-demand on discovery+) – the coming weeks are packed with highlights.

The focus is of course on the top players around Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Rafael Nadal and Alexander Zverev.

The starting position and goals of the individual stars for the clay court season can be found here at a glance.

Rafael Nadal: Everything in one card?

It has now become a sad routine for the 14-time French Open winner to speak out before major tournaments. The 37-year-old repeatedly cancels his participation – his body can no longer tolerate long-term high levels of stress.

But with his unbroken training ethic he will do everything he can to be able to attack at the French Open, the highlight of the clay court season from May 20th. And Nadal also dreams of the Olympics in Paris.

Rafael Nadal will not be there in Monte Carlo

Fotocredit: Getty Images

Novak Djokovic: The hunt for Olympic gold

The season planning of the recently stumbling Grand Slam record champion also revolves a lot around the French metropolis. The 36-year-old Serb is still missing the gold medal from the Summer Games in his exquisite collection – that should change in Paris.

“I wish him Olympic gold with all my heart,” his long-time coach Goran Ivanisevic told the Serbian newspaper “Sport Klub” after his separation from Djokovic.

With a strong clay court season, “Djoker”, who is the defending champion in Roland Garros, wants to regain the aura of being almost invincible and defend number one.

Jannik Sinner: Number one within reach

The South Tyrolean is the current challenger for the top position in the world rankings. The triumph at the Australian Open gave the 22-year-old an enormous boost. Sinner recently won in Miami and wants to use his outstanding form on the red clay as well.

However, he has not yet been one of the absolute elite on the surface. However, this also means that he only has to defend comparatively few points from last year.

The race for number one could be exciting, especially at the French Open.

Wilander about Sinner: “Every surface is the best”

Carlos Alcaraz: Title drought stopped in time

The top star from Spain also wants to get involved. Alcaraz has recently lost some of his role as a high-flyer.

But the 20-year-old Wimbledon winner proved after months of title drought that he is definitely a force to be reckoned with with his triumph in Indian Wells. Alcaraz, who was already at the top of the rankings, can develop his powerful game best on clay.

Finally, Andy Roddick gave him an interesting tip. The American believes that Alcaraz could perform even better if he played “a little more boringly” and “not always so spectacularly.”

Alexander Zverev: Return to a special surface

The German number one is still chasing an individual title this season, and Zverev could have the opportunity to do so on clay.

It is the surface on which the 26-year-old Olympic champion grew up in Hamburg – and on which he does not have to fear any opponent.

The world number five reached the semifinals at the French Open three years in a row. He has won Masters titles in Rome and Madrid and will continue to strive for greatness this year, especially at the top events in Paris.

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2024-04-06 06:28:00
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