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The Rafael Nadal tributes flowed across 2024 as it became increasingly clear that it would be his final year as a tennis player, but Roland Garros was the place where his official send-off needed to be staged.

He had a farewell party after his final French Open match against Alexander Zverev last year and was also given a Roland Garros ovation after his Olympic Games story ended at the venue a little under a year ago.

We had the poorly received ceremony after his final career match at the Davis Cup in November, but that lacked some of the sparkle this remarkable champion deserved.

So when Roland Garros chiefs declared they would take charge of Nadal’s final great moment on their stage at the start of this year’s French Open, it felt like the goodbye he merits was finally about to be delivered.

Nadal already has a statue at Roland Garros and that will stand as a lasting tribute to his greatness, with his 14 wins in Paris arguably the greatest achievement in all of sport and not just tennis.

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Tiger Woods won 15 major titles in his entire golfing career and is considered to be the game’s greatest player.

Lewis Hamilton has won seven Formula 1 world championships and is hailed as the best driver of all-time.

Yet Nadal won double that amount of titles at the French Open alone, with his dominance on Court Philippe-Chatrier as complete as anything we have seen in any sport.

And before Novak Djokovic fans start to throw up familiar aguments that their man has won more majors, spent more weeks as world No 1 and leads his head-to-head record with Nadal, they need to listen to their own hero when he explains why the Spanish legend will always have a title the Serbia cannot own – King of Clay.

In an interview with Serbian broadcaster RTS, Djokovic was asked if there was any reason besides Nadal’s dominance that he was not able to win the French Open earlier.

“Probably not, to be completely honest,” Djokovic replied.

“For me, but for Federer as well. Nadal was unbeatable there for a long time — he lost only a few times at Court Philippe-Chatrier. Every time you walk on that court there with him, he is the favourite.

“Even at the Olympics, he had injury trouble, I was in better form, but still, you know it’s the highest mountain to climb.

“He is the biggest, perhaps the only reason why I don’t have more Roland Garros titles, but I say – every win against him there is worth double.”

There is no doubt that Djokovic and Roger Federer would have numerous more French Open titles on their record if it were not for Nadal, but this is a sportsman who mastered the art of playing on clay like no other.

He won the title at Roland Garros on his first attempt in 2005 and went on to compile a truly staggering 112–4 winning record at the venue he made his own.

His lasoo-like left-handed forehand had so much spin applied that it exploded off the court and picked a hole in the game of his great rival Federer by exposing his weakness playing high backhands.

Nadal’s underrated serve dragged opponents into positions that allowed him to dictate play and hold the upper hand, with some opponents struggling to win points against an opponent who was almost unbeatable for much of his French Open career.

As his aura built, that invincible tag saw most opponents hoisting the white flag and waiting to be beaten before they shared the red clay court with him.

His 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 demolition of Federer in the 2008 French Open final is arguably the greatest exhbition of clay court season of all-time and his 6-0, 6-2 7-5 win against Djokovic in the 2020 final was another highlight.

Yet any time Nadal stepped on Court Philippe-Chatrier, those fortunate to watch a master at work knew they were in the presence of someone very special.

No tennis player will win 14 titles at any Grand Slam again and it is hard to imagine any athlete will ever match the achievements of Nadal at the French Open for as long as sport is played.

READ NEXT: How Novak Djokovic broke a Rafael Nadal record with his 100th career title

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The second Grand Slam of the year is underway and the upsets are likely to flow at Roland Garros after a tennis year that has thrown up so many shock results.

Iga Swiatek’s uncertain form as she prepares to defend her French Open title has been one of the big talking points of the clay court season so far, while uncertainty hovers over Novak Djokovic and world No 1 Jannik Sinner for different reasons.

Here are some tips for the next two weeks in Paris, with the draw shaping what we can expect on the red dirt.

DJOKOVIC’S BIG CHANCE

Novak Djokovic may have needed a favourable draw to give himself a chance to get into top gear at Roland Garros and that is what he has been given.

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Even though he toasted his 38th birthday a few days ago, the 24-time Grand Slam-winning legend continues to believe he can flick the switch and play his best tennis in the tournaments that still motivate him and his path in Paris certainly appears to give him the best chance to do that.

Mackenzie MacDonald should be a comfortable opening win and Daniil Medvedev may be a tough test in round four, but Djokovic could be firing on all cylinders if he gets through that match and reaches the quarter-finals in Paris again.

Djokovic’s success in winning his 100th career title in Geneva on Saturday ticked off one box in his list of remaining targets. Now he wants a 25th Grand Slam.

Verdict: Can this version of Djokovic beat defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner on clay? It seems unlikely, but you write off this icon at your peril.

THE IGA QUESTION

Is Iga Swiatek’s demise on a tennis court terminal?

The sight of the queen of clay losing 6-1, 6-1 to Coco Gauff at the Madrid Open and following it up with an equally comprehensive defeat against Danielle Collins at the Italian Open left so many questions about where the four-time Roland Garros champion is with her game and her mindset heading to Paris.

She may well roll through her opponents in the opening rounds, but recent history tells us that any sign of pressure or an opponent threatening her dominance can quickly lead to her downfall.

Verdict: Swiatek would need to shake off the biggest slump in form in her career to defend her title in Paris. It will be a step too far for her, but she can bounce back in future years.

SINNER’S BIGGEST TEST

Carlos Alcaraz’s dismantling of Jannik Sinner in the second set of their Rome Masters final gave us a hint that the world No.1 can be beaten when his opponent and their tactics are applied to perfection.

Sinner’s sideways movements second to none, but Alcaraz exposed a potential weakness moving back and forward in straight lines as he deployed his drop shot so effectively in Rome.

Trading with Sinner from the baseline is a recipe for disaster, as his weight of shot is too much for everyone to handle, but Alcaraz highlighted how you can get him off balance and chip into his confidence.

Verdict: Sinner should get to the final, but he will be second favourite if Alcaraz is facing him again.

ZVEREV’S PROBLEM

Alexander Zverev has had a pretty disastrous clay court season.

He won an event in Germany last month, but her was up against moderate opposition for most of that week and admitted after the event that he didn’t play at his highest level.

His early defeats in Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome and Munich highlighted an alarming collapse in confidence that leaves the world No 3 exposed heading to Paris.

Zverev was a finalist at Roland Garros last year and has a huge number of points to defend, but he is not the same player 12 months on.

Verdict: Zverev will do well to reach the latter stages, especially with his nemesis Francisco Cerundolo in his section of the draw.

RADUCANU’S REVIVAL

If the clay court season has been a nightmare for Zverev, it has been a lot more positive for Britain’s Emma Raducanu.

The 2021 US Open champion has openly admitted she does not feel comfortable on the red dirt, but she has thrown herself into the challenge in recent weeks and has served up some positive results.

The back problem she suffered in her defeat against Danielle Collins in Strasbourg is a concern, but a fully fit Raducanu could be a threat in Paris.

A potential second round match against Iga Swiatek beckons and while their previous meetings have been one-sided in favour of the Polish star, the balance of power could shift as Raducanu’s improved form contrasts from a slide in fortunes for the four-time French Open champion.

Verdict: Any wins in Paris will represent progress for Raducanu, with the upcoming grass court season her bigger focus now.

READ NEXT: Emma Raducanu fighting her biggest phobia amid worrying French Open injury update

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The Big Four will be reunited at the French Open for Rafael Nadal’s farewell ceremony in Paris with Novak Djokovic confirming he will attend the tribute along with Roger Federer and Andy Murray.

Nadal bowed out of tennis after the Davis Cup Finals in Malaga in November 2024 and Spaniards paid homage to their hero after the country’s exit from the tournament.

Djokovic, Federer and Murray were initially expected to attend that ceremony, but they were only due to arrive later in the week as many believed Spain would reach the semi-final and/or final.

However, the host nation lost against the Netherlands in the last eight and the big ceremony was a bit watered down, much to the frustration of Nadal’s former coach Carlos Moya, Spain’s Davis Cup captain David Ferrer and several others in the tennis community.

But there will be another farewell in Paris on Sunday as Roland Garros will wave goodbye to its favourite son following his historic 14 Grand Slam titles on the clay courts.

French Open Tournament Director Amélie Mauresmo stated: “We want it to be something special, exceptional, but I don’t want to say too much so that it’s a surprise for everyone.

Despite Nadal’s requests not to have a big party, several big stars will be at the French Open to attend the ceremony, including 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic.

“It’s going to be a very special, very emotional moment for everyone,” the tennis great told Lematin.ch. “With Federer and Murray, we’ll be there for the ceremony. It’s going to be a beautiful moment.”

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Nadal’s heir, Carlos Alcaraz, has also indicated that he will attend with his first-round of the 2025 French Open only taking place on Monday, while Iga Swiatek is also expected to be on Court Philippe Chatrier for the “surprise”.

The ceremony will only get underway after the day’s matches are concluded with events unlikely to start before 18:00 local time.

Djokovic won his 100th ATP Tour singles title at the Geneva Open on Saturday in what has been a difficult 2025 so far.

He has reached only two finals – he finished runner-up at the 2025 Miami Open – since winning his 99th title at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August last year and he admitted Nadal’s retirement had a big impact on him.

When asked if it was difficult to be motivated now that his great rival Nadal is no longer playing, he told Lematin: “Yes, it was hard to stay motivated without him. I honestly didn’t think it would be like this.

“A part of me went with him, and it’s been a challenge to find my motivation again. Luckily, there are other things that inspire me.”

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Novak Djokovic made yet more tennis history as he battled back to beat Hubert Hurkacz and claim a historic 100th ATP Tour title at the Geneva Open.

After defeats in the Shanghai Masters final towards the tail end of 2024 and at the Miami Open back in March, Djokovic finally claimed title No 100 with an enthralling victory in Geneva.

The Serbian was a set down to world No 31 Hurkacz and a break down in the final set, though he battled back to seal a 5-7, 7-6(2), 7-6(2) triumph.

Djokovic paid a touching tribute to Hurkacz, who is battling back from a meniscus issue similar to the one the Serbian faced in 2024, in his post match speech.

“I know it’s a bitter taste in the mouth to lose the match like this,” said the 38-year-old.

“I’m sorry for that. I think that you were, for most of the match, the better player and for me it was a miracle to win this match. Obviously I fought, but I want to give you huge credit for playing some amazing tennis this week.

“Obviously, I know how it feels to be injured with the knee, and it’s definitely a big challenge to come back. You managed to cut your comeback very short and reach already a very high level.

“I wish you all the best in Paris, in London. I really enjoy playing you, but maybe shorter matches in the future will be nice.”

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Victory was huge for Djokovic, who not only ended talk about whether he would finally win his 100th title, but also now heads into Roland Garros with four strong clay-court matches under his belt.

The Serbian had a 0-2 record for the clay court season heading into Geneva, beaten in his opening matches in both Monte Carlo and Madrid.

Djokovic’s Geneva triumph means he becomes just the third man in the Open Era to win 100+ singles titles, following Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).

However, he has now become the first man in the Open Era to win at least one title for 20 straight seasons.

Djokovic won his first ATP title at the Dutch Open back in July 2006 and has won at least one title every year since then, completing two decades of continued success.

The Serbian now moves ahead of Rafael Nadal, with whom he was previously level on 19 consecutive seasons with at least one singles title to his name.

Federer sits in third place with 15 consecutive seasons, with Ivan Lendl winning a title for 14 straight seasons and Connors claiming silverware for 13 straight seasons at his peak.

Djokovic will now head to Paris for the French Open, where he has won three of his 100 titles.

Already the only man to win every Grand Slam title on at least three separate occasions, he will be hunting for a fourth Roland Garros title and record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.

Djokovic’s French Open campaign will begin against Mackenzie McDonald.

Read Next: Novak Djokovic’s 100 career titles: A complete breakdown of Serb’s historic haul

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Once again, Novak Djokovic has made history.

Victory in the Geneva Open final on Saturday has seen him become just the third man in the Open Era to win 100 ATP titles, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer.

Here, we look back at where Djokovic’s staggering haul of trophies has come from.

Grand Slam titles – 24

Australian Open x 10 (2008, 2011-13, 2015-16, 2019-21, 2023)
Wimbledon x 7 (2011, 2014-15, 2018-22)
US Open x 4 (2011, 2015, 2018, 2023)
French Open x 3 (2016, 2021, 2023)

Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam singles titles – both an Open Era and an all-time record for a male player.

The Serbian has won a record 10 Australian Open men’s singles titles, while his haul of seven Wimbledon titles is only beaten by Federer in the Open Era.

Djokovic is the only man to have won all four Grand Slam titles on at least three occasions.

Masters 1000 titles – 40

Paris Masters x 7 (2009, 2013-15, 2019, 2021, 2023)
Miami Open x 6 (2007, 2011-12, 2014-16)
Italian Open x 6 (2008, 2011, 2014-15, 2020, 2022)
Indian Wells x 5 (2008, 2011, 2014-16)
Canadian Open x 4 (2007, 2011-12, 2016)
Shanghai Masters x 4 (2012-13, 2015, 2018)
Cincinnati Open x 3 (2018, 2020, 2023)
Madrid Open x 3 (2011, 2016, 2019)
Monte Carlo Masters x 2 (2013, 2015)

Alongside holding the record for the most Grand Slam singles titles, Djokovic also holds the record for the most Masters 1000 titles.

Djokovic won his 40th and most recent Masters title in Paris in 2023, becoming the first man to win 40 Masters crowns – and the first to win seven titles at the Paris Indoors event.

The Serbian has also won six Miami Open and six Italian Open titles in his career, with five Indian Wells titles among his greatest successes.

He is the only man to triumph at all nine Masters 1000 events – and he’s won all of them at least twice.

ATP Finals titles – 7

Year-End Championships: 2008, 2012-15, 2022-23

Djokovic is a seven-time champion at the ATP Finals, with a 15-year gap between his first and last triumphs at the year-end championships.

The 37-year-old holds the record for the most titles at the tournament, having moved ahead of Federer (6) with his most recent victory in 2023.

Olympic titles – 1

Olympic Gold: Paris 2024

Who could forget Djokovic’s stunning triumph at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games last summer?

After suffering heartbreaking defeats in his four previous Olympic appearances, the Serbian finally struck gold by beating Carlos Alcaraz in an enthralling gold medal match.

Djokovic joins Agassi and Nadal in being one of just three men to have won all four Grand Slams and Olympic singles gold.

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ATP 500 titles – 15

China Open x 6 (2009-10, 2012-15)
Dubai Tennis Championships x 5 (2009-11, 2013, 2020)
Vienna Open x 1 (2007)
Swiss Indoors x 1 (2009)
Japan Open x 1 (2019)
Astana Open x 1 (2022)

Djokovic has won 15 titles at ATP 500 level, with his most successful event being the China Open.

The former world No 1 is a six-time champion in Beijing and holds the most titles of any man at the event.

He is also a five-time champion at the Dubai Tennis Championships, while his most recent ATP 500 title came at the 2022 Astana Open.

ATP 250 titles – 13

Qatar Open x 2 (2016-17)
Serbian Open x 2 (2009, 2011)
Dutch Open x 1 (2006)
Moselle Open x 1 (2006)
Australian Hard Court Championships x 1 (2007)
Portugal Open x 1 (2007)
Eastbourne International x 1 (2017)
Belgrade Open x 1 (2021)
Tel Aviv Open x 1 (2022)
Adelaide International x 1 (2023)
Geneva Open x 1 (2025)

Finally, Djokovic has won 13 titles at ATP 250 tournaments, across a period spanning close to two decades – from title No 1 in 2006 to No 100 in 2025.

Djokovic’s first-ever ATP title came at the 2006 Dutch Open, defeating Nicolas Massu 7-6(5), 6-4 to lift the title as a 19-year-old.

He has also twice won the Serbian Open on home soil, alongside winning the Belgrade Open 2 back in 2021.

Djokovic is also notably a two-time Qatar Open champion, with the event since having been upgraded to ATP 500 status.

The 38-year-old’s triumph in Geneva was his first at the tournament, and makes him one of just three men to claim a century of titles in the Open Era.

Read Next: Alcaraz beats Sinner to defend French Open title as Djokovic outperforms Zverev – our predictions

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Novak Djokovic has got “the best draw of anyone” to make a deep run to the 2025 French Open, according to tennis icon John McEnroe.

The great Serb will vie for his fourth French Open crown, having won two of the last four editions of the clay-court major.

The 38-year-old is also chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title overall, having won his most recent major at the 2023 US Open.

Djokovic triumphed on the clay courts of Roland Garros in August last year when he secured the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The former world No 1 reached the quarter-finals at last year’s French Open before injury forced him to pull out before his match with Casper Ruud.

Djokovic, who is seeded sixth at the 2025 French Open, has been handed a favourable draw to progress to the quarter-finals, with 11th seed Daniil Medvedev likely the biggest threat in his section.

He could meet No 3 seed Alexander Zverev in the last eight, before a potential semi-final meeting with world No 1 Jannik Sinner. Defending champion and second seed Carlos Alcaraz is on the opposite side of the draw.

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Djokovic has endured a difficult campaign, having lost his first match at four of his eight tournaments, although he was a runner-up in Miami and a semi-finalist at the Australian Open.

Speaking ahead of the French Open, TNT Sports pundit McEnroe was asked if he sees a path for Djokovic to win the title.

“You might look back and he loses and, ‘Ah see, of course, he’s 38. He’s too old. It caught up to him,’ or whatever. But you don’t count him out,” the seven-time major singles champion said at an event attended by Tennis365.

“And he’s got the best draw of anyone to get to there. And the way… you know, Zverev’s not playing with the same confidence that he played with until he reached the finals of Australia this year. He’s not… that really hurt him, I think, mentally, at least from what I’ve seen. And he doesn’t seem to be playing with the same confidence.

“So I could see the possibility of him (Djokovic) getting there and I’m not… whether or not Zverev was there, I don’t think Novak would go in being much of an underdog there.

“And who knows with the other guys. What happens if one of them gets hurt? You don’t know. So Novak to me would still be, like, the third favourite.”

READ NEXT: Alcaraz beats Sinner to defend French Open title as Djokovic outperforms Zverev – our predictions

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The French Open gets underway on Sunday – but who will lift the women’s singles title at the end of a thrilling fortnight in Paris?

Here, we make our Roland Garros predictions.

First Quarter

Projected Q/F: (1) Aryna Sabalenka vs (8) Zheng Qinwen

Sabalenka has been a cut above the rest in 2025 and has proven her Slam credentials on hard courts – so can she now win a Slam on the natural surfaces?

The Belarusian is the top seed at Roland Garros for the first time and has been handed a kind draw early on, with no obvious dangers in the opening few rounds.

Sixteenth seed Amanda Anisimova or 22nd seed Clara Tauson are threats in the round of 16, though she hasn’t failed to make the last eight of a Grand Slam she’s played since this tournament three years ago.

Perhaps the most significant test would be a projected quarter-final against Qinwen, the eighth seed beating Sabalenka for the first time in Rome last week.

The Chinese was the Olympic champion in Paris last summer, and her form has improved after a rocky start to the year – though 2021 runner-up Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova is not an easy opener.

With 11th seed Diana Shnaider also in the section, the eighth seed will not find things easy.

Prediction: Sabalenka def Qinwen

Second Quarter

Projected Q/F: (4) Jasmine Paolini vs (5) Iga Swiatek

A rematch of last year’s final could take place as early as the quarter-final in 2025, though the dynamics between Paolini and Swiatek have changed significantly.

A surprise finalist twelve months ago, Paolini has cemented her place in the top 10 and enters this year full of confidence after Rome, while Swiatek has not won a title since her fourth Roland Garros win in 2024.

The Pole has slipped down to world No 5 in the rankings and faces an array of issues in her game, and does not have an easy draw in Paris.

Swiatek should beat Rebecca Sramkova in round one and potentially Emma Raducanu in round two, though could then face 26th seed Marta Kostyuk in round three, and then 12th seed Elena Rybakina or 21st seed Jelena Ostapenko – her ultimate nemesis –  in round four.

Any one of those three could prove a test for Swiatek in a challenging season, but it still feels hard to go against her in Paris.

The question is whether she can potentially see off Paolini, who has surely silenced ‘one-season wonder’ talk in recent weeks.

The fourth seed herself does not have an easy draw to make the last eight, particularly with 13th seed Elina Svitolina a likely round-four test.

Prediction: Swiatek def Paolini

Third Quarter

Projected Q/F: (6) Mirra Andreeva vs (3) Jessica Pegula

Twelve months on from her stunning Grand Slam debut, is Andreeva ready to make back-to-back semi-finals at Roland Garros?

The 18-year-old has been one of the biggest stories of 2025 following her Dubai and Indian Wells triumphs, and her clay season was solid enough to suggest she is a threat.

Andreeva has a hugely advantageous draw on paper with 10th seed Paula Badosa, struggling with injury and up against Naomi Osaka in round one, the highest-ranked opponent in her mini-section.

The toughest part of this quarter faces third seed Pegula, who’s clay momentum has dropped off after her triumph in Charleston early in the spring.

Pegula could face any one of 25th seed Magdalena Frech, Marketa Vondrousova, or Ons Jabeur in round three, and then a tough fourth-round match as well.

Fourteenth seed and 2023 runner-up Karolina Muchova is projected to reach the fourth round and meet the American, though Maria Sakkari and 24th seed Elise Mertens also lurk.

Prediction: Andreeva def Muchova

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Fourth Quarter

Projected Q/F: (7) Madison Keys vs (2) Coco Gauff

An American-heavy section could deliver an all-US quarter-final between Australian Open champion Keys and Gauff, who comes into Roland Garros after Madrid and Rome runner-up finishes.

The momentum of seventh seed Keys has slightly cooled since her triumph Down Under, and a potential round three against 31st seed and 2020 runner-up Sofia Kenin could prove an intriguing test.

Also potentially awaiting Keys in round for his ninth seed Emma Navarro, who beat her compatriot at Roland Garros in 2024 – and beat Gauff at both Wimbledon and the US Open last year.

Either one of Keys, Kenin, or Navarro would be a test for the world No 2 in the last eight, but could she be threatened on her way there?

Gauff has been dealt an incredibly kind draw, with injury concerns circling the two seeds she is projected to face: 30th seed Anna Kalinskaya and 15th seed Barbora Krejčíková.

Prediction: Gauff def Navarro

Semi-final Predictions

Sabalenka def Swiatek

Gauff def Andreeva

Final Prediction

Sabalenka def Gauff

Read Next: Alcaraz beats Sinner to defend French Open title as Djokovic outperforms Zverev – our predictions

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Novak Djokovic has entered the final at the ATP 250 event in Geneva, defeating Brit Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-1.

The victory means that the former world No 1 is just one match away from claiming a 100^th singles title, a milestone which has only been reached by Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).

In that final, Djokovic will face Hubert Hurkacz, who defeated Sebastian Ofner 6-3, 6-4 earlier on Friday.

The Serb will likely fancy his chances against the Pole, dominating their head-to-head by 7-0.

“It was the toughest match of the tournament for me,” admitted the former world No 1.

“Three sets, second set he was a break-up and I managed to come back to the tiebreak.

“Match point, I got a bit tight there and missed a couple of mid-court shots, but I’m really glad at how I re-grouped in the third, and played my best set of the tournament.

“It means a lot, so let’s go for the title.”

For the match, Djokovic hit 34 winners and conceded 25 unforced errors, winning 23 more points overall than the Brit.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion won a healthy 87% of his first-serve points, and 60% second-serve points.

On the other hand, Norrie hit 24 winners and 31 unforced error in the 133-minute battle.

Whilst Djokovic will be in a prime position in the Geneva final, he has been in a similar position twice previously in the last seven months.

In the 2024 Shanghai Masters final, the Serb put up a solid fight against world No 1 Jannik Sinner – ultimately losing out 7-6(4), 6-3.

At the Miami Open tournament, he, once again, reached the showpiece match where he was defeated by Jakub Mensik, 7-6(4), 7-6(4).

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Before the Miami final, Djokovic was clear that a 100^th title was one of his biggest goals.

“Ever since I won my 99th, which was the Olympic Games in Paris, I’ve been playing with the prospect of winning the special hundred titles,” admitted the former world No 1.

“I played finals of Shanghai. I was close there. Semi-finals of Australia. Then been trying to find that necessary and much-needed level of tennis that will put me in a position to fight for a trophy, a big trophy.”

No matter the result in Geneva, the three-time French Open champion will have to be in top form to contend at the Parisian Grand Slam.

Djokovic will open his campaign against Mackenzie McDonald, before likely facing crowd-favourite Corentin Moutet in the second round, and Denis Shapovalov in the third round.

From there – if all of the respective seeds survive in the tournament – the Serb would have to defeat Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz to lift a fourth title in Paris.

If Djokovic does manage to go all the way at the second Grand Slam of the year, he would collect his 25th title at that level – an achievement which has never been reached by any player, male or female.

The former world No 1’s last Grand Slam victory came at the 2023 US Open, where he defeated Daniil Medvedev in the final.

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The 2025 French Open promises to be filled with intriguing storylines on the men’s side, but who will lift La Coupe des Mousquetaires?

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who are the the top two seeds, are widely seen as the two clear favourites, while Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic are at the front of the chasing pack.

With the men’s singles draw out, we break down each quarter and make our predictions.

First quarter

Sinner showed little rust on his return from a three-month suspension at the Italian Open as he won five matches before losing to Alcaraz in the final.

The world No 1 has a challenging early draw in Paris as he could face the dangerous Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round before a thrilling potential last 16 match with 14th-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fils.

Despite this, Sinner — who reached the last four at last year’s French Open —  has made at least the semi-finals at five of his last seven majors, and he has gone deep at every event he has played since late 2023.

The Italian could face any one of Jack Draper, Alex de Minaur, Jakub Mensik, or Joao Fonseca, in the last eight. Fifth seed Draper, who has had an impressive clay season, is the most likely.

Quarter-final prediction: Jannik Sinner d. Jack Draper in 3 sets

Second quarter

Zverev, a runner-up at Roland Garros last year, faces a daunting path in the latest stop on his quest to win his maiden major.

The No 3 seed should reach the fourth round unscathed, but he could then run into 18th seed Francisco Cerundolo — who has become his nemesis.

The German has a 0-3 record against the Argentine, with all three meetings on clay, although this would be a first Grand Slam encounter.

Zverev is tough to stop over the best-of-five format and has reached at least the semi-finals at the last four French Opens.

If he reaches the quarter-finals, Zverev would likely be set for a showdown with sixth seed Novak Djokovic — who has a very good draw.

On paper, the biggest hurdle between Djokovic and the last eight is Daniil Medvedev, who is not at his best on clay and looks some way off the level that saw him challenge for Grand Slams consistently.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion als0 looks set to arrive at Roland Garros with momentum from the Geneva Open.

Quarter-final prediction: Novak Djokovic d. Alexander Zverev in 5 sets

Third quarter

Taylor Fritz is the No 4 seed, but he is 3-3 on clay this year and has only gone beyond the third round at the Paris major once in eight previous appearances.

The American has a great chance to make the quarter-finals for the first time, though, as he is in a fairly weak section — with fellow Americans Frances Tiafoe, Sebastian Korda and Alex Michelsen the other seeds.

Eighth seed Lorenzo Musetti is the clear favourite to advance from this quarter on the back of his red-hot form at the clay-court Masters events.

The Italian should face no real threats until the fourth round, where he could have a tricky clash with Holger Rune or Tomas Machac.

Quarter-final prediction: Lorenzo Musetti d. Taylor Fritz in 3 sets

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Fourth quarter

With Zverev and Djokovic landing in the top half with Sinner, No 2 seed Alcaraz was the big winner from the draw.

The four-time Grand Slam champion arrives after winning the Monte Carlo Masters and Italian Open, as well as finishing as a runner-up in Barcelona.

The Spaniard could face the talented Fabian Marozsan in the second round, and Stefanos Tsitsipas or Ben Shelton in the last 16, but it is difficult to see him being troubled.

Seventh seed Casper Ruud and No 12 seed Tommy Paul look set to battle it out for the chance to meet Alcaraz in the last eight.

Quarter-final prediction: Carlos Alcaraz d. Casper Ruud in 3 sets

Semi-finals

A semi-final clash between Sinner and Djokovic would be a potential blockbuster.

The world No 1 would be the favourite given he has won his last three matches with Djokovic — who would potentially be coming off a tough quarter-final against Zverev.

In the bottom half, a highly watchable last four battle between Alcaraz and Musetti looks on the cards.

Musetti is certainly a dark horse in Paris, but Alcaraz’s Grand Slam pedigree and 5-1 head-to-head record against the Italian — including two wins on clay this year — would give him a clear edge.

Semi-final predictions:

Jannik Sinner d. Novak Djokovic in 4 sets

Carlos Alcaraz d. Lorenzo Musetti in 3 sets

Final

This would lead to a first Grand Slam final between Sinner and Alcaraz and a rematch of the Rome championship match.

It would be a fascinating battle, but Alcaraz’s clay-court prowess, four-match winning streak against Sinner, and greater match toughness in 2025, could all prove decisive.

Final prediction: Alcaraz d. Sinner in 4 sets

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The post Alcaraz beats Sinner to defend French Open title as Djokovic outperforms Zverev – our predictions appeared first on Tennis365.

Aryna Sabalenka has proclaimed that she feels ‘better than ever’ on clay courts, ahead of her French Open campaign.

The world No 1 has enjoyed a successful clay-court season,  with a WTA 1000 victory in Madrid and a final at the Stuttgart event (which she lost to Jelena Ostapenko).

At the Belarusian’s last event – the Italian Open – Sabalenka was knocked out in the quarter-final stage by Zheng Qinwen, 6-4, 6-3.

“I think throughout the years I improved a lot, and today I feel physically, mentally, and I think my game is pretty much ready to play on clay,” stated Sabalenka, during her pre-tournament French Open press conference.

“Yeah, I definitely feel stronger than ever.

Honestly, preparation-wise, there is no difference. Mentally, and like in my head, there is no difference [in being ranked No 1].

“It honestly doesn’t matter your ranking when you arrive in the big tournaments, as we see in the past. There is so many crazy upsets happening.

“So ranking doesn’t really matter anymore. I’m just trying to focus on my game, and nowadays I know I can do well on clay, so arriving here I feel really strong and super excited, and hopefully this is going to be the year when I’m really going to be proud of myself on the clay court.”

Sabalenka may have had sensational results at the hard court Grand Slams – having won two Australian Opens and one US Open – she is yet to reach a final in Paris, with her best result coming in 2023, where she reached the last four.

However, despite the lack of a tournament victory, she has her eyes firmly on the Suzanne-Lenglen trophy.

“I think at this point of my career it’s all about winning the titles, the big trophies, and I think you have to set up really huge goals for yourself,” Sabalenka reaffirmed.

“Maybe sometimes really crazy goals. I’m more into, winning than just reaching the finals, because losing in the final sucks, I hate it, so that’s not the goal for me.”

Sabalenka will open against Kamilla Rakhimova, with her Rome-conqueror – Zheng Qinwen – lurking in her quarter as the eighth seed.

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The world No 1 leads her nearest rival – Coco Gauff – by nearly 4000 ranking points, and, despite the gap, Sabalenka acknowledged that she actively enjoys being ‘chased’ by her competitors.

“I just love it so much, because just for me personally, knowing that there is someone chasing me, or I have a target on my back right now, I love it,” the Belarusian stated.

“I take it as a challenge. Every time I go out there, I feel like, okay, let’s go. Let’s see who is ready for the pressure moments. I take it like that, and it’s actually helping me to stay in the moment and to fight, no matter what, on the court.”

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