PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz said he is excited to open up a defense of the French open title against veteran Kay Nishikoli and return to Paris behind the scenes of an excellent clay court season.
Alcaraz is the dominant player in the weeks leading up to Roland Garos, and is a clear favourite after claiming the trophy in Barcelona and Rome. Nishikori is a former top five player who has struggled with dirt in recent years.
Alcaraz holds a 15-1 record for Clay this season. Returning to second place in the rankings, he is on the other side of the draw before the final in Paris, so he cannot play top-ranked Jannik Sinner.
“It’s been a great clay season so far,” Alcaraz said after a draw in Paris on Thursday. “I’m excited. I’m really confident right now.”
Together, Alkaraz or Sinner won the final five Grand Slam titles.
Returning from a three-month doping suspension, the sinner pushed Alcaraz when he met in the Rome final this month, but lost in a straight set. The Sinner opens against local hope Arthur Linderkneck.
Alcaraz defeated the sinner in five sets in the French Open semi-finals last year. Alcaraz then successfully defended his fourth Grand Slam trophy Wimbledon title. Thinner won only one of his 19 career titles for Clay in 2022 at Umag, Croatia, defeating Alkaraz in the final.
Novak Djokovic, who won the match this year at Clay at the Geneva Open on Wednesday, will face US Mackenzie MacDonald in the first round. The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion won the Parisio Games gold medal at Roland Garos last August, but has been struggling with Clay ever since.
The sinners were able to come across No. 5 seed Jack Draper in the quarterfinals, with other potential matchups featuring Alexander Zverev (3) vs Djokovic (6), Taylor Fritz (4) vs Lorenzo Musetti (8) and Alkaraz vs Casper Rood (7).
In the women’s draw, four-time champion Iga Swieitok is still looking for her best form.
She fell outside the top four and has not won a title or reached the final since her victory at Roland Garos last year. Swiatek, who seeded No. 5 in Paris, will open a campaign against Rebecca Slamkova, ranked No. 41. She was able to meet 2021 US Open champion Emma Radukanu in the second round.
“I’m proud of my achievements here,” Swiatek said. “I’m working hard to get ready. This season has had more ups and downs than I did a few years ago. But I know my game is here.”
No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka faces Kamilla Rakhimova with No. 2 Coco Gauff facing Olivia Gadecki. An interesting matchup pits No. 10 Pola Badosa against four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Tai’s.
The potential women’s quarterfinals are Jasmine Paolini and Jessica Pegula (3) vs. runner-up against Swiatek last year. Sabalenka against Mirra Andreeva (6) and Gauff (7) against Madison Keys.
The French opening begins on Sunday and ends on June 8th.
