The Extra Open, the Higher

Daniil Medvedev suffered a troublesome loss to Tommy Paul on Tuesday in Rome, however the Russian likes the way in which he’s enjoying on clay and nonetheless sees himself with an excellent probability to make a deep run in Paris this 12 months.

Asked to interrupt down this 12 months’s Roland Garros favorites by a reporter, Medvedev stated that Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz ought to be thought-about No.1 and No.2, given how effectively they’ll play on clay.

“I think if Novak and Carlos play, they’re two big favorites,” he stated. “They like the surface. They can win Grand Slams.”

But, Medvedev says, this 12 months’s important attract Paris could possibly be extra extensive open than it has been in almost 20 years. With Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner nonetheless working via critical accidents, Djokovic and not using a ultimate to his identify but in 2024, and Nadal removed from his peak, it seems that another names have an even bigger shot than ever to carry the Coupe des Mousquetaires aloft on Sunday June 10.

Medvedev additionally gave a nod to Stefanos Tsitsipas, who remains to be alive within the Rome draw as he pursues his second clay-court Masters title of 2024.

“If he wins here, could be big favorite, for sure,” Medvedev stated of the Eighth-ranked Greek. “If he wins two Masters 1000s, he’s one of the favorites, too.”

Wide open works simply effective for Medvedev…

“Now it’s maybe a little bit more open than it was ever before,” Medvedev stated. “Good for me, too, because usually in Roland Garros I don’t play that well. The more open it is, the better it is for me.”