2024 French Open Roland Garros Men's Preview including Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal v Alexander Zverev

The French Open is set to take place between May 27 to 9 June, 2024 on the illustrious grounds of Roland Garros in Paris and with the draw now complete on the men's side, we take a look at the leading talking points in our preview of the tournament.

It is perhaps the most wide open French Open in years for the men with the women's being the most clean cut in the most strangest set of circumstances going into a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in many years. But Novak Djokovic aiming for a fourth French Open title and also a 25th Grand Slam title will still lead the way.

Read also

Rafael Nadal to open final French Open against Alexander Zverev in blockbuster men's draw at Roland Garros

Djokovic plays Geneva - but will it pay off?

Novak Djokovic has been in crisis mode in part of this season compared to his high standards and has made the decision during the lead up to play at the Geneva Open. As of time of writing, he will play in the Quarter-Finals against Tallon Griekspoor as he hunts for his first final of the year no mind winning a title.

An odd set of circumstances for the greatest of all time to not be in the requisite form ahead of a Grand Slam. But part of that has come from a lack of match practice. He didn't play for a number of weeks after Monte-Carlo deciding to snub Madrid. He went into Rome with the grand design of getting games in and kick starting a busy period.

Something that for Djokovic has worked quite well in the past. But not this time. He had a bottle dropped on his head from height against Corentin Moutet and then wasn't himself in losing to Alejandro Tabilo. Even in taking down Yannick Hanfmann in Geneva, he looked uneasy so in reality it could just be the new reality of Djokovic. Or that notion could be utterly smashed in Paris. A player often for the big occasion, he is seen often as a player who can just turn it on. It wouldn't shock many including his rivals to romp to the title in Paris given the doubts about him.

He has also not been favourite with odds compilers either for most of the past few weeks despite the favourite being Carlos Alcaraz. The same Alcaraz who is still practicing with some semblance of strapping on his forearm. So if Djokovic can win some games, it is not a question of injury, it is putting together form more than anything else. Perhaps the weakest version of Nole in some years, but also a fired up Nole is a dangerous prospect.

Read also

2024 French Open Roland Garros Women's Preview: Can anyone stop Iga Swiatek's reign as Queen of Clay?

Will Alcaraz and Sinner be ready?

The other main storyline sits with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner who are both in Paris and seemingly ready to play at the 2024 French Open.

But both have been injury doubts for the last six weeks or so. Sinner aggravated a hip injury at the 2024 Madrid Open and so much so that he didn't end up playing at the 2024 Rome Open, his home tournament. A tournament in which he would've been the home hero so as a result the concern was really there.

Will Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner be ready in time?

He has moved to alleviate that though with pictures of himself on court training and he has also flown to Paris to play making the final decision that he will be at the French Open. He also has a fairly favourable draw so it has slightly opened up for him. But Alcaraz also like was alluded to has emerged as the favourite despite the fact that he has been injured for a little while.

He has shown some pep in his step in training but isn't at his best by any means. Daniil Medvedev who is another player who could be construed as a leading light is also not 100%. Andrey Rublev won Madrid with an abscess in his throat and had to spend time in hospital so the big names in reality are folding almost like a pack of cards.

Zverev to rise to the occasion

It leaves potentially one man to rise to the occasion and that could feasibly be Alexander Zverev. The German won in Rome and has a giant killing ahead of him in the opening round of the 2024 French Open. He will take on a certain Rafael Nadal.

There will certainly be redemption on his mind when it comes to that clash. Back in 2022, he seemed on his way to semi-final glory over the great Spaniard before disaster struck. He hobbled off court on a wheelchair with an ankle injury and required surgery.

Only two years later has he got any semblance of similar success with the German winning the Rome Open last week for his best success since that point. But he also has a dark cloud looming which could threaten to derail him. That being his trial for domestic abuse. That will dominate column inches no matter how far he goes in the tournament and could threaten to really take away from a potential run for Zverev.

Public enemy one to a lot of tennis fans and that could soon manifest itself further if he manages to end the Roland Garros career of one of their greatest sons. A match certainly to savour. The same can be said for instance with Stan Wawrinka facing Andy Murray, another top clash. As ever it won't certainly be one to be missed in Paris. From the uncertainty of the top names to the farewells to Nadal and Murray even potentially in the first round. Will Djokovic stick to his script or will another player come to the fore? The next fortnight holds all the answers.

Roland-Garros

@rolandgarros

·Follow

Nadal raising the intensity before the Zverev matchup 👊 #RolandGarros

Watch on Twitter

2.4K

Reply

Copy link

Read 48 replies