Roland Garros 2023 preview: final clash for Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz

MAY 28, 2023 12:30

The men's draw for the 2023 Roland Garros edition is out. The second Grand Slam tournament, which will begin today, Sunday 28 May, and will end on 11 June, has its main draw, with many protagonists present and some absent. There is no title holder Rafael Nadal, who for the first time since his debut abdicates his reign before the start.

There is no number three in Italy, Matteo Berrettini, not yet in the best physical condition to be able to compete in Paris. There is Carlos Alcaraz, who leads the French Open draw, for the first time as a seed in a Grand Slam tournament, given his absence from the Australia Open.

As his first opponent, he will have one between a qualifier and a lucky loser. On his side of the draw is Stefanos Tsitsipas, a possible challenge to the quarter-finals of the tournament. On the road of the Spaniard is the number two of Italy Lorenzo Musetti.

On the top of the draw there is Novak Djokovic, who is looking for the 23rd Grand Slam title on the Parisian clay-courts, thus becoming the most successful in the history of men's tennis: the American Kovacevic will make his debut against the world number one.

The Spaniard and the Serbian tennis player could only face each other in the semifinals.

Final clash for Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz

In the bottom half Daniil Medvedev leads, who found a special feeling with clay by winning the Internazionali d'Italia against Holger Rune.

As for Alcaraz, the debut for the Russian will also take place against a qualifier or a lucky loser. On his side is the number one of Italy, Jannik Sinner: possible clash in the quarter-finals between them. On Sinner's path, the first seed is Grigor Dimitrov.

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are in their final clash. Indeed, it would be a possible first clash, on a Slam tournament. Should both make it to the final and challenge each other, the winner would then be the favorite to eventual final and lift the title.

How do they get to this tournament? Nole not in the best psycho-physical conditions. However, the Serbian champion is an old fox, and he may have preserved himself to arrive in the best conditions in Paris. The tournament, two weeks of best of 5 sets, is congenial to his tennis and his experience.

If Nole will be well physically, he will be the man to beat, with much better chances than the others, Alcaraz included, of triumphing in the Bois de Boulogne. Alcaraz, after the misstep in Rome, will try to confirm his status as No.1, just looking for the clash and the victory with the Serbian, but he will have to be in the best psycho-physical conditions.

and it is not said that they will be enough. Attention to Medvedev: on clay and, in general, in 2023, he has shown that he is really in super shape, and his draw part is more accessible. The surprise of the tournament could be his victory.