After the draw, the Spaniard, king of clay and the Serbian, world number 1 and defending champion could face each other in the quarter-finals.
Five-time Olympic medalist Quentin Fillon Maillet had a heavy hand on Thursday evening during the draw. The king of clay, Rafael Nadal and his 13 titles at Roland-Garros, and the world number 1 and defending champion, Novak Djokovic, could thus meet in the quarter-finals for a final before the letter. And if the Carlos Alcaraz phenomenon attracts all eyes, the favorites for the title are still living legends despite legitimate questions.
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By triumphing in Rome ten days ago, his first tournament for more than six months (Rolex Paris Masters), Novak Djokovic chased away many doubts and restarted the machine, rusty during the first quarter, where lack of vaccination the Serb took himself offside. After the incredible soap opera of his expulsion from Australia, he only played three matches (in February in Dubai). Worrying in Monte-Carlo in mid-April (entry defeat), it took him a month to regain his best level in Italy.
The Serb, who will turn 35 on Sunday, seems to have turned the Australian page. “It’s behind me. I feel very good on the courthe assured after his victory in Rome. Mentally too. I am fresh. Finalist at home in Belgrade, semi-finalist in Madrid, so he put things right in Rome. Doubled by Nadal in the race for the Grand Slam title record (21 against 20) at the Australian Open, his favorite garden, Djokovic could play the same trick on the Spaniard on his beloved clay…
Stress fracture
Especially since the Mallorcan presents himself at Porte d’Auteuil with less certainty than usual. After a dream start to the season with twenty wins in as many games, the Mallorcan was stopped in his irresistible momentum due to a fatigue fracture to a rib. For the first in fifteen years, he launched his season on ocher very late on May 3.
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Too fair, he suffered the law of Alcaraz in Madrid in the quarter-finals, then he was betrayed by his left foot in Rome in the round of 16 against Denis Shapovalov. I had pain for a day or two afterwards. Now it’s OKhe assured the press on Friday. That’s why I’m here. I don’t think the pain will go away like this. It’s my daily life. But I’m tired of always talking about my foot. I’m here to play tennis. I didn’t have the preparation I would have liked, but I believe in my chances. He is not the only one…