“A single being is missing and everything is depopulated”. The clay court of Roland Garros will not have its king this year to dictate a law that has lasted for many years. The absence of Rafael Nadal opens some doors for some who thought they had to go through the window. This is the case of several top 10 players who are eagerly awaiting a first Grand Slam victory to somehow launch their careers at the highest level. Three players who have won several important tournaments on the ATP circuit but who have a growing appetite, at the dawn of a summer when power can change hands and a page of history can turn.
24 years old, world number 4
The Norwegian simply has to win the tournament if he wants to do better than last year. Beaten by Rafa in the final, Ruud has a shot to play knowing that clay is his favorite surface. The black point is that he has not really convinced this season after a year 2022 full of promise. It seems that he has reached his glass ceiling, giving way to disappointment. Evidenced by his elimination in Geneva where he was the big favorite of a tournament which was to allow him to build up his confidence before attacking Roland. Result of the races, he could not go further than in quarters, eliminated by the Chilean Nicolas Jarry (world number 54), (3-6, 7-6, 7-5). Before that, Ruud had experienced another disappointment in Barcelona where his executioner this time was the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo in the round of 16.
Nevertheless his path is fairly clear until the round of 16 where the main dangers will be Botic van de Zanschulp and Tommy Paul. On the other hand, he could find another young player in his case, Holger Rune at the quarter-final stage. Like last year.
20 years old, world number 6
The young Danish who has just celebrated his 20th birthday (May 22), arrives in town with full confidence. It must be said that he only very rarely seems worried, with a strong character that annoys more than one, especially on the circuit. It is not Stan Wawrinka who will say the opposite. Love him or hate him, forced to see that on earth he is formidable. Certainly his only title this season is in Munich on an ATP 250 tournament, but it was on earth. And we can add to that remarkable outings in Monte-Carlo and Rome where he twice reached the final, beaten by Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev.
Rune is unpredictable and his ambitions keep growing, which is why he will be a very difficult client to eliminate, especially in three winning sets. Especially since he ousted Novak Djokovic in Rome and therefore no opponent will scare him. This time, he will have the “momentum” if he comes to face Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals, to wash away the disappointment of last season at Roland.
21 years old, world number 8
One thing is certain, the Italian has not made an impression on clay this season. Semi-finalist in Monte-Carlo (beaten by Holger Rune), Sinner only reached the round of 16 in Rome (exited by Fransisco Cerundolo) you did not take part in that of Madrid. He was much more illustrated on hard court during the American tour with in particular a final in Miami (beaten by Daniil Madvedev) and a half in Indian Wells (defeated by Carlos Alcaraz).
But Sinner is still waiting for a reference performance in a grand slam and why not a victory. His talent is undeniable and immense, but he still lacks consistency at the end of tournaments to tip the balance in his favor. Very good mentally, we know that he is a player on whom we will have to rely and who will give us points that we will remember at the end of the fortnight.
Moreover, the presence of one of these three players in the Roland-Garros final is to be taken very seriously. The reason is simple, they are all three in the same part of the table. The first two could end up in the quarters while Sinner could logically face Daniil Medvedev in the quarters, and so why not find the winner of a possible Ruud / Rune in the semi-finals.