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Five to follow at the French Open
The clay-court season is now firmly up and running on the European circuit as attention and focus will naturally start to build towards the French Open at Roland Garros at the end of May.Nine-time winner Rafael Nadal will be spearheading the charge to win the second Grand Slam of 2015, but there will be plenty of challengers determined to topple the undisputed King of Clay.
Betfair may have Nadal and Djokovic at 6/4 and 3/2 to win, respectively, when this article was created, but if they land in the same half of the draw, then there will be some value to be had in the other half.
Here, we take a look at five players, naturally including Nadal and Djokovic, who are going to be worth following at Roland Garros.
RAFAEL NADAL
by Carine06
He has still only lost one match at Roland Garros when he was beaten by Robin Soderling in the fourth round in 2009 before he then had a couple of months on the sidelines with tendinitis in both knees. Nadal had a difficult end to last year when he first struggled with a wrist problem, and then had appendicitis, and he is still striving to find top form in 2015.
He suffered a surprise loss on clay to Fabio Fognini in the semi-finals in Rio before going on to beat Juan Monaco in Buenos Aires. But he lost to Milos Raonic in the quarter-finals in Indian Wells and was then beaten in the third round by Fernando Verdasco in Miami. After losing to his fellow Spaniard, Nadal acknowledged he was struggling with nerves and self-control.
However, his form leading up to the French Open shouldn’t necessarily be considered a major concern as he lost to David Ferrer in the quarter-finals in the Monte Carlo Masters last year, and to Nicolas Almagro in Barcelona, before going on to win in Madrid and at Roland Garros. The fact he needed three sets to beat John Isner at Monte Carlo this year, though, does indicate Nadal is not yet back to his best.
But, while there is a sense that he may be looking vulnerable, he will be gearing his game and preparation to peak for the fortnight in Paris.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC
by y.caradec
The world number one needs the French Open to complete a career Grand Slam and this could be his best chance yet after enjoying a stunning start to the year.
He picked up another Australian Open title, and he has followed that up with success in the Masters Series events in Indian Wells and Miami. He has already reached the French Open final twice, losing in four sets to Nadal in both 2012 and last year. The Serb was also beaten by Nadal in the semi-finals in 2013. Yet Djokovic does have plenty of winning form in high-profile events on clay, having won three times in Rome, including last year.
He also won in Monte Carlo in 2013 and Madrid in 2011. Djokovic looks like he is still improving, despite his dominant position at the head of the men’s game at the moment. Clay may not be his favoured or most natural surface, but such is the strength of his all-round game, there is no reason why Djokovic can’t add the French Open to his collection of Grand Slams.
And, the way he is playing right now, there is also no reason why he needs Nadal to be off-form, or knocked out by someone else, in order to gets his hands on the title.
ANDY MURRAY
by Carine06
The newly-married Scot has yet to reach a final on clay in his career, despite training and practising on the surface extensively in his younger days.
He was walloped 6-3, 6-2, 6-1 by Nadal in the semi-finals of the French Open last year as he was given a lesson in how to dominate on clay. It also may not seem ideal preparation for Roland Garros that he is missing the first two clay-court tournaments in Europe – at Monte Carlo and Barcelona – following his marriage to Kim Sears, but it could turn out to be of benefit. Murray has had a couple of hard tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, losing to Djokovic in the semi-finals and final respectively, and a little break will do him good before he returns in the BMW Open in Munich.
He is also due to play in Madrid and Rome before going on to Paris, and that will give him enough opportunity to sharpen up his clay-court game.
He probably needs a bit of luck with the draw, but if he gets that, Murray is in good enough form to overcome most challengers and complete a clean sweep of final appearances in Grand Slams.
DAVID FERRER
by Carine06
Ferrer may now be 33, but he shows no signs of wilting at the top level just yet after winning three tournaments already in 2015. Clay clearly brings out the best in the Spaniard, but only half of his 24 career titles have been on that surface and he perhaps doesn’t always get the credit he deserves on other surfaces.
He reached the final of the French Open in 2013, when he didn’t drop a set en route to a meeting with Nadal, but he was put firmly in his place after losing 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 to his compatriot. His form in 2015 has generally been solid and he beat Tomas Berdych in the final in Doha before losing to Kei Nishikori in the last 16 of the Australian Open. That was followed up by beating Fognini on clay in the final in Rio before then beating Nishikori in the final in Acapulco.
Ferrer did suffer a surprise loss to Bernard Tomic in Indian Wells, especially after he had beaten the Australian in Acapulco. Ferrer then lost to Djokovic in the quarter-finals in Miami. If Nadal is not quite the same force as old, then Ferrer is in the sort of form to take advantage.
GAEL MONFILS
