potential semi-final between Alcaraz and Djokovic

2023-05-25 16:37:00

The two main favorites of the tournament, Serbian Novak Djokovic and Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, could well face each other in a potential semi-final.

By MR with AFP

The other theoretical semi-final could oppose the Russian Daniil Medvedev and the finalist of last year, the Norwegian Casper Ruud.
© MATTHIEU MIRVILLE / Matthieu Mirville / DPPI via AFP

Published on 05/25/2023 at 4:37 p.m.

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Si Rafael Nadal withdrew before the start of the tournament, the 122^e edition of Roland-Garros can however turn out to be spectacular. This Thursday, May 25, took place the draw for the legendary tournament. Among the duels envisaged, the Serbian Novak Djokovic, 3^e world in search at Roland-Garros of a 23^e title of the grand slam, and the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, world number 1, could face each other in the semi-finals.

The other theoretical semi-final could oppose the Russian Daniil Medvedev (2^e) and last year’s finalist, the Norwegian Casper Ruud (4^e). The defending champion and 14-time winner, the Spaniard Rafael Nadal, withdrew, having insufficiently recovered from a muscle injury to the hip he suffered in the 2^e Australian Open round in January.

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The big question was whether the tournament’s two main favorites, Alcaraz and Djokovic, could face each other before the final, with the Serb having dropped back to third in the world. The fate therefore decided that yes by placing him in the half of the table of the Spaniard. For Alcaraz, 20, after a first round against a player from the qualifications, the road seems clear until the quarter-finals where the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas would be waiting for him (5^e), finalist in 2021. At 36, Djokovic will begin his career against the American Aleksandar Kovacevic (114^e) by aiming for a quarter probably against the Russian Andrey Rublev (7^e).

At the bottom of the table, Medvedev who created a surprise by winning his first title on clay in Rome last week, will start against a player from the qualifications and will move towards a theoretical quarter against the Italian Jannik Sinner (8^e).

Towards a duel between French

The other quarter should oppose Danish rising star Holger Rune (6^e), finalist this year in Monte-Carlo and Rome, to Ruud, finalist at Roland-Garros last year.

German Alexander Zverev (27^e), who seriously injured his right ankle last year in the semi-finals against Nadal and ended his season, will make his debut against South African Lloyd Harris (306^e).

In addition, the fate was severe with the Frenchman Benoît Paire (149^e) who, having received an invitation, will be the opposite entry to Briton Cameron Norrie (14^e).

READ ALSORoland-Garros 2023: Van Assche, Fils, Müller… the French to discoverThe two French hopefuls Luca Van Assche (79^e) and Arthur Son (112^e), finalists of Roland-Garros juniors in 2021, could face each other in the second round of the main draw this year, provided that the first beats the Italian Marco Cecchinato (73^e) and that the second gets rid of the Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich (34^e).