2023 French Open Tennis Preview
By Peter Moore
The second Grand Slam of the 2023 tennis season begins on Sunday in Paris with the French Open at Roland Garros.
Despite 14-time French Open Champion Rafael Nadal not playing due to a hip injury, it now leaves the men’s championship wide open.
Novak Djokovic will be searching for a record breaking 23rd Grand Slam title after tying with Nadal’s record at the recent Australian Open.
With no Roger Federer retired, this will be the first French Open since 1998 without either all time great in the draw.
Aside from Nadal, Matteo Berrettini, Nick Kyrgios and Marin Cilic will also miss the tournament due to injuries.
Carlos Alcaraz will start the tournament as favourite. The 20-year-old Spaniard will be making his first Grand Slam appearance since winning the 2022 US Open, after injury prevented him from playing in this year’s Australian Open.
The current World No. 1 has a magnificent record so far this year of 30-3. Despite a surprise loss to Fabian Marozsan in Rome, he certainly looks the player to beat.
Djokovic opened the year with a superb 15-match winning streak, but since that flying start the Serbian has suffered some losses, mainly to Daniil Medvedev inn the Dubai final which ended Djokovic’s unbeaten season.
So far he has a 5-3 record during the clay court season while battling an elbow injury. At 36 maybe finally age will be against him in his pursuit of another Grand Slam title.