Tsitsipas and Alcaraz will rival Nadal and Djokovic for French Open title, Rusedski predicts
Greg Rusedski believes that Stefanos Tsitsipas and Carlos Alcaraz’ recent form has transformed them into contenders for the French Open title alongside Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
With Rafael Nadal currently out injured and Novak Djokovic severely lacking match fitness, the French Open looks to be extremely competitive.
21-time Grand Slam legend Nadal had gone 20-1 to start the new season, winning the Melbourne Summer Set, the Australian Open and the Mexican Open but was ruled out for four to six weeks after fracturing a rib at the Indian Wells Masters.
As a result, Nadal was forced to miss the Monte Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open and he could also be set to miss the Madrid Masters. Such an absence will undoubtedly hamper the Spaniard’s Roland Garros preparations.
Continuing, before the Monte Carlo Masters 20-time Slam great Djokovic had not played since the Dubai Tennis Championships in February. As such, he succumbed to an early defeat to eventual finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old French Open Carlos Alcaraz recently became the third youngest Masters 1000 champion when he won the Miami Open, whilst World number four Stefanos Tsitsipas became just the sixth man to defend his Monte Carlo Masters title.
Speaking on Amazon Prime, former World number four Rusedski said “what a performance to win back-to-back [Monte Carlo] titles. We saw the list of six champions to do that. All of the other names were [World] number ones and Roland Garros champions.
“This puts Tsitsipas in a great position to have another run at the French Open. It puts him in the list with four guys you’d think have a real shot to win it, with Rafa [Nadal], Novak [Djokovic] and [Carlos] Alcaraz. It’s exciting times for men’s tennis.”
Rusedski also praised Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz, who recently won the Miami Open to become the third youngest Masters Champion ever.
The Brit said “he’s just that good. He’s a phenom. He’s ridiculously good. He won Miami and only lost this week to an inspired Korda where he still had his chances. I’m putting him in the conversation (for the Roland Garros title) because he is special.”
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