Is Andy Murray the next king of clay?
These are some of the key questions and predictions, as Andy Murray and co bid for Roland Garros glory. Is this Murray’s year? Once uncomfortable on clay, Murray has made huge strides over the past year, winning Masters titles in Madrid and Rome, and is a genuine contender to win this year’s French Open. Last week’s 6-3 6-3 defeat of Novak Djokovic in the Italian Open final served notice of how well he is moving on the red dirt, and he pushed the Serb all the way in last year’s five-set semifinal defeat at Roland Garros.
Murray should be confident of reaching a first French Open final, and he would have every chance of ending a three-year grand slam drought.
Prediction: Defeat in the final Can Djokovic finally complete the career grand slam? This question has dominated tennis since he lost last year’s final to Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland. Djokovic has won all three majors since then but the French Open has eluded him.
The world No 1 has enjoyed a stunning year so far — losing just three matches and winning five titles — so he is the firm favourite. Recent losses in Monte Carlo and Rome though have shown chinks in Djokovic’s armour and given the rest a glimmer of hope.
Prediction: Djokovic to win it How rejuvenated is Rafa? After a relatively poor 2015, Nadal looks to have rediscovered his confidence and was close to his swashbuckling best in winning the Monte Carlo Masters last month. A nine-time winner at Roland Garros, Nadal has to be considered one of the favourites, but nagging doubts remain.
The main worry for the former ‘king of clay’ is that he does not have the same aura he used to and players are not afraid to go out and try to blast him off the court. Fernando Verdasco did that in the Australian Open first round earlier this year, and Nick Kyrgios famously did so at Wimbledon in 2014. Nadal has not won a slam since the French Open two years ago, and the lack of recent experience of going deep into the second weeks of majors could count against him.
Prediction: Quarterfinal exit Will Serena hold it together? Making predictions about Serena Williams is a mug’s game, and this year she has continued to confound expectations. After losing an Australian Open final to Angelique Kerber that she was expected to make light of, Williams reminded everyone of her will to win by blowing away the field to claim the Italian Open last week.
That win in Rome was Serena’s first title in nine months, but she tends to save her best for the slams.
Prediction: Serena to claim her 22nd grand slam and equal Steffi Graf’s haul How will we cope without Federer? Roger Federer announced on Thursday that he is withdrawing from the French Open through injury, and so will miss his first grand slam in 17 years. Not since the US Open in 1999 has there been a main draw at a major without Federer.
The news was not a surprise — after missing two months following knee surgery in February, the Swiss has struggled with illness and a back problem. The tournament will still offer a glimpse into the future world of tennis without its biggest star. Was last year a one-off for Wawrinka?
The way Stan Wawrinka is playing, it’s hard to imagine a robust defence of his title. In the three clay-court Masters events preceding the French, ’Stan the Man’ won a paltry total of three matches, with the lack of game time even prompting the Swiss to play a tournament in Geneva this week. More variable than any of the other top players, Wawrinka can be devastating but also lacklustre and error-prone. Expect a similar title defence to his attempt at the Australian Open last year when he made it to the last four.
Prediction: Semifinal defeat — ©