PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz will open his protection of the French Open title in opposition to veteran Kei Nishikori and stated he is excited to be again in Paris on the again of a wonderful clay-court season.
Alcaraz has been the dominant participant within the weeks resulting in Roland-Garros and is the clear-cut favourite after claiming trophies in Barcelona and Rome. Nishikori is a former top-five participant who has been struggling on the grime in recent times.
Alcaraz holds a 15-1 document on clay this season. Having moved again to No. 2 within the rankings, he cannot play top-ranked Jannik Sinner earlier than the ultimate in Paris as a result of they’re on reverse sides of the draw.
“It has been an important clay season thus far,” Alcaraz stated after Thursday’s attract Paris. “I am excited. The arrogance is actually excessive proper now.”
Collectively, Alcaraz or Sinner have gained the final 5 Grand Slam titles.
Again from his three-month doping suspension, Sinner pushed Alcaraz once they met within the Rome remaining this month, but misplaced in straight units. Sinner opens in opposition to native hope Arthur Rinderknech.
Alcaraz beat Sinner in 5 units within the French Open semifinals final yr. Alcaraz then efficiently defended his Wimbledon title for his fourth Grand Slam trophy. Sinner has gained solely one in every of his 19 profession titles on clay, in Umag, Croatia, in 2022, when he beat Alcaraz within the remaining.
Novak Djokovic, who lastly gained a match on clay this yr on the Geneva Open on Wednesday, will face Mackenzie McDonald of the US within the first spherical. The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion gained the Paris Olympics gold medal final August at Roland-Garros however has struggled on clay since then.
Sinner may run into No. 5 seed Jack Draper within the quarterfinals, with different potential matchups that includes Alexander Zverev (3) vs. Djokovic (6), Taylor Fritz (4) vs. Lorenzo Musetti (8), and Alcaraz vs. Casper Ruud (7).
Within the ladies’s draw, four-time champion Iga Swiatek continues to be looking for her finest kind.
She has dropped outdoors the highest 4 and has not gained a title or reached a remaining since her victory at Roland-Garros final yr. Seeded No. 5 in Paris, Swiatek will open her marketing campaign in opposition to Rebecca Sramkova, ranked No. 41. She may meet 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu within the second spherical.
“I am pleased with my achievements right here,” Swiatek stated. “I am working laborious to be prepared. For positive this season had extra ups and downs than the years earlier than. However I do know my recreation is right here.”
No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka faces Kamilla Rakhimova, and No. 2 Coco Gauff will tackle Olivia Gadecki. An attention-grabbing matchup will pit No. 10 Paula Badosa in opposition to four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.
The potential ladies’s quarterfinals are Sabalenka in opposition to No. 8 Qinwen Zheng, last-year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini in opposition to Swiatek, Jessica Pegula (3) vs. Mirra Andreeva (6), and Gauff in opposition to Madison Keys (7)
The French Open begins Sunday and concludes on June 8.