Karen Khachanov has revealed who he thinks could challenge Jannik Sinner for the Roland Garros title this year.
Sinner is the huge favorite for Roland Garros this year, with his biggest rival Carlos Alcaraz currently out of action due to a wrist injury.
The world number one is currently in incredible form, with Sinner making history after winning the Italian Open, where he won his 29th consecutive match.
With less than a week to go until Roland Garros, Khachanov has revealed who his dark horse for the Paris major is.
Karen Khachanov backs Rafael Jodar as a ‘dark horse’ for Roland Garros
Khachanov is a former Roland Garros quarterfinalist and reached the last-eight at the Italian Open last week, but he does not believe he is one of the best clay court players on the ATP Tour right now.
When asked who he thinks are the best clay court players in men’s tennis right now, Khachanov named Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Casper Ruud and Lorenzo Musetti, with the latter withdrawing from Roland Garros due to injury.
“Well, 100% Sinner,” Khachanov told First & Red. “Honestly, I think Musetti has always been dangerous, but you see he got injured again, he can play very, very well on clay.
“We’re not taking Alcaraz because he’s injured, right? Ruud is 100% one of the best clay court players…Well actually Zverev too, he’s always had good results on clay, he played like the semifinal and final of Roland Garros.”
Can anyone now stop Jannik Sinner from winning Roland Garros after Carlos Alcaraz’s withdrawal?
If yes, who?
Khachanov was then asked for his dark horse for Roland Garros, to which he answered by naming Spanish teenager Rafael Jodar.
He answered, “Let’s say Jodar, why not.”
Jodar has never played at Roland Garros before, but will be seeded for this year’s tournament after a breakthrough past 12 months, which includes winning his first ATP title and reaching the quarterfinals of both the Madrid Open and the Italian Open.
Karen Khachanov suggests that Rafael Jodar is even better than Joao Fonseca
In a separate part of the interview, Khachanov was asked about young players on the ATP Tour right now, when he spoke about Jodar again.
Khachanov was full of praise for Jodar, who he suggested was even better than Brazilian teenage sensation Joao Fonseca and other young players in men’s tennis.
Will Rafa Jodar win more Grand Slam titles than Joao Fonseca in his career?
“He is progressing very quickly, like really in two, three months he has already played in a Masters at a high level, beaten good tennis players,” said Khachanov. “It’s as if he has suddenly experienced this leap and a take-off so to speak, and it’s evident in his game, how he carries himself, how he is very focussed.
“He has only his dad on the court and so far it’s working really well. The main thing is that he knows in which direction to go and move to continue developing…It will be interesting to see how he finishes this year and it seems to me that he can even play better than Fonseca and everyone else so far.”
Khachanov and Jodar have never played each other before, but both will be seeded at Roland Garros this year, where the main draw gets underway on Sunday, May 24.
