French Open 2022: Top 3 favourites to win men's singles title
Carlos Alcaraz came to Paris with the 10-match winning streak. (Photo: Roland Garros)
The French Open has entered Day 5 and we haven’t yet seen a major upset in the men's singles event.
While Rafael Nadal reached a new milestone by earning his 300th Grand Slam victory, world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic eased into the third round on Wednesday by defeating Slovakia's Alex Molcan in straight sets.
Carlos Alcaraz, who is seeded at sixth place, made a stunning comeback from saving a match point and won the game 6-1, 6-7 (7), 5-7, 7-6 (2), 6-4 against Ramos-Vinolas.
Day 4, you certainly spoiled us ?
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2022
Presenting you the best moments of the day by @emirates#EmiratesFlyBetterMoments | #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/julu6qXkuq
Third seed and 2021 semi-finalist Alexander Zverev also saved a match point against Argentina's Sebastian Baez to reach the third round of the world's most prestigious clay-court tennis tournament.
We take a look at three players who according to us are the favourites to win the men’s singles title of French Open:
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
The world number one and the defending champion at the tournament is bookies' favourite to win the French Open. After the drama at Australian Open, where he was denied entry over him not not getting Covid vaccination, the Serb now looks focussed and has been in good form.
Star quality ⭐
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2022
The world No.1 navigates a tricky last set to defeat Alex Molcan 6-2, 6-3, 7-6(4). #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/RpOlb43XyR
He won his first title of the season in Rome earlier in May as he went past Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets. His campaign in Paris also started with easy wins against Yoshihito Nishioka and Alex Molcan.
His coach Goran Ivanisevic, though, has tried to lower the expectations by saying that Rafael Nadal is the favourite.
RAFAEL NADAL
No matter how bad his form is, or if he is not fully fit, you can't rule out Rafael Nadal as a favourite. He is the King of Rolland Garros with 13 French Open singles titles. Since making his debut here in 2005, Nadal has won 107 of 110 games he has played.
? Grand Slam win 3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for No.5 @RafaelNadal ?#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/px9XymLlIJ
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2022
Nadal opened his 2022 season with a personal-best of 20-0 and winning titles at ATP tour events in Melbourne, Acapulco and Australian Open and made it to the finals of the Indian Wells, reported CNBC. Later in the year he suffered with injuries, but looked strong in the first two wins in the French Open.
He registered comfortable wins against Aussie Jordan Thompson and France's Corentin Moutet. Nadal would face Djokovic in the quarters if both of them won their matches.
CARLOS ALACARAZ
After a long time, men's tennis has found a player in Carlos Alcaraz Garfia, who can replace the Top 3 (Federer, Nadal and Djokovic). The 19-year-old Spaniard's season-best four titles helped him reach a career-high of No 6 in ATP rankings.
Alcaraz by name ✨ Alcaraz by nature ✨@alcarazcarlos03 defeats compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas 6-1, 6-7(7), 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-4 to advance to the third round.#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/06A8nqfkgX
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 25, 2022
He won in Madrid, beating both Nadal and Djokovic, clinched the ATP Masters 1000 title in Miami and ATP 500 trophies in Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona.
Alcaraz looks confident on the court and has almost every shot in the game. He came to Paris with the 10-match winning streak. In the first game at the French Open he defeated Juan Ignacio Londero before making a brilliant comeback in the second match to win the five-setter.