One week after the US Open is done and dusted, tennis fans will have their attention fixated at the Stade Roland Garros because of the upcoming French Open.
While the clay-court event will feature majority of our tennis stars both in the men and women’s divisions, it remains notable for who will not participate.
Former US Open titlists in Bianca Andreescu and Naomi Osaka, and WTA’s top-ranked player Ashleigh Bartywon’t be joining the festivities due to concerns related to COVID-19, lack of preparation time, and overall fitness.
Roger Federer remains sidelined as he continues to recover from his right knee surgery, but the ATP won’t be lacking in star power as Rafael Nadal will return to action while Novak Djokovic aims to get back to winning ways.
Newly-crowned Grand Slam winner Dominic Thiem will try to add on to his trophy case while fellow US Open finalists Alexander Zverev and Victoria Azarenka will look to bring their fine form into another continent.
The Roland Garros qualifiers are already underway as the rest of the pack claw their way into the competition, but who will be the last men/women standing when it’s all said and done?
Today, SBOTOP offers an analysis of the current draw along with some of the latest French Open 2020 updates.
Novak Djokovic, Simona Halep pegged as the favourites
Novak Djokovic is sure to be coming in motivated in this upcoming event, especially after what happened in the US Open.
The Serb wasmeted a shocking default after he hit the line judge with a ball when he was frustrated by Pablo Carreno Busta in their match, although it wasn’t intentional.
Still, it was an avoidable mistake and that cost him in what would’ve been his fourth US Open Grand Slam.
Djokovic is heavily backed by the French Open 2020 odds to redeem himself because he is dealt with a favourable draw.
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic celebrating after winning against Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman during the Italian Open at Foro Italico
He is expected to face the likes of Mikael Ymer, Ricardas Berankis, and Hubert Hurkacz in the first three rounds, and then winnable opponents await in Karen Khachanov, Matteo Berretini, and Daniil Medvedev.
The same can be said for Simona Halep as she probably won’t have any problems until the third round.
Kiki Bertens looks to be the one who might surprise Simona Halep since she beat her in a clay court during the 2019 Madrid Open final. But other than that, Halep is expected to breeze through the competition in her draw.
Halep bounced back by winning in two clay tournaments since the restart and her success on clay courts along with her recent experience should be enough to at least guarantee a final four spot.
Serena Williams, Alexander Zverev facing tough draws
Serena Williams continues her quest for no. 24, but this tournament isn’t doing her any favours.
The American superstar faces a tough opponent in the first round in Kristie Ahn and then she might go head-to-head with Tsvetana Pironkova, who gave her a tough time in the US Open quarterfinals.
After that, she might get a potential US Open rematch in the fourth round versus Victoria Azarenka, and then Elina Svitolina, Simona Halep, and Karolina Pliskova are going to be in her way as well.
The same goes to Alexander Zverev, who will have to go through the gauntlet if he advances to the fourth round.
Awaiting him might be David Goffin, and then Dominic Thiem, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic will be there ready to face him.
Rafael Nadal hopeful to write a familiar script
Rafael Nadal exploits in the French Open has been well-documented. In fact, he has won 12 of his 19 Grand Slams there by going 93-2 in the said event.
But despite being pegged as one of the favourites to win in this competition, the Spaniard bared that getting no. 13 will be much easier said than done.
His overall fitness might be in question given that his last tournament dates back to six months ago.
One more thing to look out for is the weather conditions. Normally, the French Open is played during summertime, which is ideal for clay courts like in the Roland Garros.
Nadal admitted that he isn’t used to the cold weather here in France and that might play a huge factor when he sets foot on the tennis court anew.
“The conditions here are probably the most difficult conditions for me ever at Roland Garros for so many different facts,” admitted Nadal.
“The weather is so cold. The ball is completely different. It is super slow, heavy. It’s also very cold, slow conditions,” he added.
There is ahuge incentive for Rafael Nadal to win in Roland Garros as getting his 20th Grand Slam will equal the record of Roger Federer.
That should give him enough motivation ahead of this much-awaited tournament.
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The post French Open: Top Stars Searching For Redemption appeared first on SBOTOP.