In eager expectation of a Djokovic Nadal final, hopes were high for the two giants of the game to be thrown on opposite sides of the Roland Garros draw.
Not to be, however, as Nadal found himself in the Djokovic quarter.
Still, that’s on paper, and there’s much to happen on court before any potential blockbuster quarter final.
Top seed Djokovic has produced the ideal preparation by capturing the Rome Masters 1000 title last week. He defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas, who he also conquered in the 2021 RG final.
The road to this year’s quarters could include a second round meeting with Alex Molcan, the Slovakian about to compete in his second final of 2022 (in Lyon).
Djokovic is seeded to meet Diego Schwartzman (15) in the round of sixteen, but it could be Grigor Dimitrov instead.
Dimitrov should be the Argentine’s third round opponent, and he won against Schwartzman in Madrid this month.
Irrespective, Djokovic has won all 6 encounters with Schwartzman, and his only loss to Dimitrov in 10 battles was in 2013.
A few reasonable tests for the world number one, but logic suggests his quarter final appointment will be attended on schedule.
As for Nadal, he has lost three times in 108 matches at Roland Garros.
Once was to Robin Soderling in 2009, and Spain has just about recovered from that black day - no longer in mourning.
Djokovic shoved a dagger to his heart on the other occasions en route to his two clay majors, and Nadal will ease through some ‘practice partners’ in the early rounds as he seeks revenge for last years semi final loss. The standard injury excuse is tucked in his back pocket in case of emergency.
The other quarter in the top half is dominated, if the media is any guide, by teenage sensation Carlos Alcaras (6), who is one of the three clear favourites among the bookies to win this thing.
He is also second favourite to win Wimbledon, and going on his rapid rise in the world, should be at short odds for next President of Spain, and inside running for Pope.
On the tennis court, his form is phenomenal, and a quarter final should be his. The journey to the final eight could see excellent match ups from Sebastian Korda (27), and Cameron Norrie (10). Norrie has timed his run perfectly, by booking a final spot in Lyon against Molcan, where he will defend his 2021 title.
Alexander Zverev (3), yet to greet the judge in 2022, has enough in the bank to suggest he will be the quarter final test for Alcaraz.
The German number one probably has to jump over Sebastian Baez and maybe needs to tackle Taylor Fritz (13) in the fourth round, but his path seems relatively smooth before the Carlos train.
Andrey Rublev (7) is in the bottom half of the draw, and in the bottom quarter. He is seeded to meet Daniil Medvedev (2) in the quarter finals, but Medvedev, although seeded to make the final, isn’t attracting the big money. Yes, he doesn’t have the burden of Nadal or Alcaraz to bear unless it’s in the final, but Daniil has just returned from a six week lay off, recovering after a hernia operation. His only match has been a loss to Richard Gasquet in Geneva.
Add to that his less than dazzling Roland Garros record - four first round defeats before a quarter final exit last year - and I can’t envisage him lasting beyond a week.
Rublev has recorded three title wins this year, including a final victory over Djokovic in Belgrade.
To reach the quarter final, possible stumbling blocks for Rublev may be unseeded in form players Cristian Garin and Ilya Ivashka, plus Jannik Sinner (11) who won their round of sixteen match in Monte Carlo in April, and is scheduled to meet Rublev at the same point in this tournament.
The top quarter of the bottom half features last years runner up Stefanos Tsitsipas (4), and in his section of the draw there is also Casper Ruud (8).
To be honest, I cannot see anyone bothering these two until their round of sixteen contests.
Ruud is preparing for the Geneva final, so he is in fine touch, and Tsitsipas won Monte Carlo, while finalist to Djokovic in Rome.
Ruud should beat Hubert Hurkacz (12) and Tsitsipas beat Denis Shapovalov (14) before their eventual match up.
My predictions:
Quarter finals:
Novak Djokovic (1) v Rafael Nadal (5)
Alexander Zverev (3) v Carlos Alcaraz (6)
Casper Ruud (8) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (4)
Jannik Sinner (11) v Pablo Carreno Busta (16)
Semi finals:
Novak Djokovic (1) v Alexander Zverev (3)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (4) v Jannik Sinner (11)
Final:
Novak Djokovic (1) to defeat Stefanos Tsitsipas (4)
in a repeat of 2021.
Prepare for these to be wildly inaccurate !
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