Carlos Alcaraz’s self assurance hovering prior to French Open name protection

FILE–Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz celebrates after profitable his males’s singles ultimate fit in opposition to Germany’s Alexander Zverev on Court Philippe-Chatrier on day fifteen of the French Open tennis event on the Roland Garros Complex in Paris on June 9, 2024. (Photo through EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP)

PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz will open his protection of the French Open name in opposition to veteran Kei Nishikori and mentioned he’s “excited” to be again in Paris at the again of a very good clay-court season.

Alcaraz has been the dominant participant within the weeks resulting in Roland-Garros and is the uncomplicated favourite after claiming trophies in Barcelona and Rome. Nishikori is a former top-five participant who has been suffering at the grime lately.

READ: French Open: Carlos Alcaraz cautious of sharper Jannik Sinner

Alcaraz holds a 15-1 file on clay this season. Having moved again to No. 2 within the ratings, he can’t play top-ranked Jannik Sinner prior to the overall in Paris as a result of they’re on reverse facets of the draw.

“It’s been a great clay season so far,” Alcaraz mentioned after Thursday’s attract Paris. “I’m excited. The confidence is really high right now.”

Together, Alcaraz or Sinner have received the final 5 Grand Slam titles.

Back from his three-month doping suspension, Sinner driven Alcaraz once they met within the Rome ultimate this month, but misplaced in directly units. Sinner opens in opposition to native hope Arthur Rinderknech.

Alcaraz beat Sinner over 5 units within the French Open semifinals final 12 months. Alcaraz then effectively defended his Wimbledon name for his fourth Grand Slam trophy. Sinner has received handiest considered one of his 19 occupation titles on clay, in Umag, Croatia, in 2022 — when he beat Alcaraz within the ultimate.

READ: Carlos Alcaraz expects French Open danger from ‘insane’ Sinner

Novak Djokovic, who in spite of everything received a fit on clay this 12 months on the Geneva Open on Wednesday, will face Mackenzie McDonald of the United States within the first spherical. The 24-time Grand Slam singles champion received the Paris Olympics gold medal final August at Roland-Garros however has struggled on clay since then.

Sinner may just run into No. 5 seed Jack Draper within the quarterfinals, with different imaginable matchups that includes Alexander Zverev (3) vs. Djokovic (6), Taylor Fritz (4) vs. Lorenzo Musetti (8), and Alcaraz vs. Casper Ruud (7).

Swiatek suffering

Poland’s Iga Swiatek celebrates after profitable a fit in opposition to Italy’s Elisabetta Cocciaretto throughout the WTA Rome Open tennis event on the Foro Italico in Rome, on May 8, 2025. (Photo through MARCO BERTORELLO / AFP)

In the ladies’s draw, four-time champion Iga Swiatek continues to be on the lookout for her highest shape.

She has dropped out of doors the highest 4 and has no longer received a name or reached a last since her victory at Roland-Garros final 12 months. Seeded No. 5 in Paris, Swiatek will open her marketing campaign in opposition to Rebecca Sramkova, ranked No. 41. She may just meet former U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu in the second one spherical.

“I’m proud of my achievements here,” Swiatek mentioned. “I’m working hard to be ready. For sure this season had more ups and downs than the years before. But I know my game is here.”

No. 1 seed Aryna Sabalenka faces Kamilla Rakhimova whilst No. 2 Coco Gauff will tackle Olivia Gadecki. An fascinating matchup will pit No. 10 Paula Badosa in opposition to four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka.

The imaginable girls’s quarterfinals are Sabalenka in opposition to No. 8 Qinwen Zheng, last-year’s runner-up Jasmine Paolini in opposition to Swiatek, Jessica Pegula (3) vs. Mirra Andreeva (6), and Gauff in opposition to Madison Keys (7)

The French Open begins on Sunday and concludes on June 8.