TENNIS: Sinner eyes French Open breakthrough as rivals look for answers

BENGALURU – With defending champion Carlos Alcaraz sidelined by injury and Novak Djokovic not fully tested on clay, the big question heading into the French Open is whether anyone can stop Jannik Sinner from completing the career Grand Slam in Paris.

Sinner’s season has gained momentum with a “Sunshine Double” of titles at Indian Wells and Miami, followed by commanding victories on the European clay swing in Monte Carlo, Madrid, and Rome.

The 24-year-old Italian now has a golden opportunity to capture the only major title missing from his collection, a year after his heartbreaking loss to Alcaraz in last year’s final.

Central to Sinner’s rise has been his growing authority on clay, the sport’s slowest surface.

“This year is the first time I’ve won something big on clay,” Sinner said in Rome, reflecting on his Monaco victory. “Also physically, I’m getting stronger. It’s a mix of everything. That experience, to play certain points in a better way, but mostly I feel like physically if you improve, it helps you a lot on clay.”

A victory at Roland Garros would mark Sinner’s fifth major and complete his Grand Slam set, just months after Alcaraz achieved the same at the Australian Open.

With Alcaraz skipping his Paris title defense due to a wrist injury, Djokovic stands as one of the few players capable of testing Sinner. The Serb will resume his chase for a record 25th Grand Slam title, having shown in Melbourne that he remains a force even in his late thirties after defeating Sinner in a five-set semi-final.

However, Djokovic’s endurance comes with a note of caution. A career spanning two decades has taken a physical toll, and his only claycourt appearance this season ended in a loss to Dino Prizmic in Rome.

Former U.S. Open champion Andy Roddick believes Djokovic will remain a threat despite limited clay preparation.

“He’s like a part-time tennis player who’s still number four in the world all the time when he shows up,” Roddick said. “It’s absurd, it’s like he’s going, ‘Alright all you idiots, why don’t y’all bet against me?’”

Other contenders include Alexander Zverev, who is chasing an elusive first major but enters Paris with fitness concerns due to a back issue. Twice runner-up Casper Ruud also brings proven clay credentials but has struggled to reach the very top, as seen in his Rome final defeat to Sinner.

Frenchman Arthur Fils is another threat after winning the Barcelona title, while Ben Shelton carries U.S. hopes following his growing clay-court form, highlighted by his Munich victory.

-Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Rutherford/Reuters