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Young gun Alexander Zverev accounted for world No.1 Novak Djokovic in Rome.
By LAURENCE ROSEN
Tennis's clay court season is about to wrap up with the year’s second Grand Slam – the French Open. Starting today in Paris, the 2017 edition of tennis’ marquee clay-court event looks as open as any.
Roger Federer, Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams won’t be competing for varying reasons, which opens the door for several players.
No Federer – is this Nadal’s title to lose?
There is great uncertainty in the men’s draw. Roger Federer has opted to skip the French Open ahead of the grass court season, while top seed Novak Djokovic recently sacked his entire coaching team after a run of poor form.
Tennis legend Andre Agassi has joined the 12-time Grand Slam winner's new coaching team, with the French Open his first real test. Djokovic has had a lacklustre start to the year, with a semi-finals loss to Rafa Nadal in Madrid, a quarter-finals exit to David Goffin in Monte Carlo and, most recently, recently a finals appearance in Rome.
And what of current world No.1 Andy Murray? The Brit failed to reach the quarter-finals in the three main ATP 1000 clay events (Monte Carlo, Madrid and Rome) and looks especially vulnerable heading into Paris.
This has paved the way for the master of clay – Rafa Nadal – to win his 10th French Open crown, but he could be upstaged by either Austrian Dominic Thiem or German young gun Alexander Zverev, who are both in scintillating form.
Thiem ended Nadal’s 17-match winning streak on clay in Rome at the Italian Open, while Zverev beat Djokovic in the final at the same event to claim his maiden Masters title.
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Dominic Thiem ended Nadal's 17-game winning streak in Rome.
With Serena Williams out and Angelique Kerber struggling, is there going to be a breakthrough women’s champion?
Much like the men’s, the women’s French Open title could be anyone’s. Neither Serena Williams nor Maria Sharapova will be in Paris, while world No.1 Angelique Kerber has struggled during the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) clay-court season.
Simona Halep – who was arguably the favourite for the event before injuring her ankle in the Rome final – said on Friday she was going to play, after last week saying she was only a 50-50 chance.
So where does that leave the rest of the field? Karolina Pliskova and in-form Elina Svitolina are also leading contenders. Beyond them, it is anyone’s title to win and that only adds to the intrigue of the Grand Slam.
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Simona Halep was injured in Rome.
Doubts over Nick Kyrgios
It’s been a year of contrasting emotions for Australia’s No.1, from the highs of beating Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells to the lows of taking time off the tour when his grandfather died.
The build-up to the French Open for Kyrgios has been anything but straightforward. He now has a coach – accomplished former French tennis player Sebastien Grosjean – but a niggling hip injury saw him skip the Rome Masters and subsequently fall out of the top 16.
Clay has never been his preferred surface, and coupled with his current ranking of 19, he faces an uphill battle to stage any real impact in Paris. In positive news for the Canberra-born player, he only made the third round in 2016, so matching this and defending his ranking points appears to be an achievable feat.
All eyes will be on Kyrgios heading into Wimbledon but, as it stands, he’ll be looking to build back up to the highs experienced at Indian Wells in March.
Trio of Australian women in fine clay form
The WTA event in Strasbourg, Germany is hardly the pinnacle event for most Australians, but the tournament has been a key lead-up event for Sam Stosur, Daria Gavrilova and rising star Ash Barty.
All three women have made it through to the quarter-finals, signifying that they enter the French Open in impressive form.
Stosur, who made the semi-finals in Paris last year, is expected to display her class once again on arguably her strongest surface.
For Gavrilova and Barty, the French Open provides an opportunity to build on their solid start to 2017. Considering the women’s draw has been left so open, do not discount either of them making a run deep into the Grand Slam.
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Australian youngster Alex De Minaur has won a wildcard entry.
Aussie wildcards to watch
The French Tennis Federation (FTF) and Tennis Australia (TA) have a wildcard agreement, meaning two French players receive immediate singles entry in the Australian Open while two Aussies are given direct passage to the French Open singles draw.
In 2017, rising star Alex De Minaur has a chance to impress after being offered a wildcard into the Paris event.
On the women’s side, a play-off will be held on the courts in Paris to determine which Australian will claim the singles wildcard. Destanee Aiava, 17, is the favourite, while Jaimee Fourlis and Queenslander Lizzie Cabrera will also compete for the coveted spot.