French Open Men's Outright predictions: Zverev and Tsitsipas the pair to focus on in Paris
- Alexander Zverev has won 10 of his 13 clay-court matches this season
- Stefanos Tsitsipas has lost only three of his 16 clay-court matches this term
Only four men have won the French Open since 2005 and, with Roger Federer retired and Stan Wawrinka no longer able to contend, it is down to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic to keep that trend going.
However, 14-time French Open hero Nadal has been plagued by injury and looks a declining force while defending champion Djokovic has a point to prove following a patchy run of results.
That makes it an open renewal, with cases to be made for plenty, including Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner who have emerged as Djokovic’s biggest title threats on the ATP Tour.
But those rising stars have also been battling with injury issues in recent months, which will give the likes of Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Holger Rune, Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev belief that they can stake their claim for Grand Slam silverware.
Recommended bets:
- Alexander Zverev to win outright
- Stefanos Tsitsipas to win outright
Zverev’s claims look crystal clear
Zverev still awaits his first Grand Slam success but it is surely only a matter of time and the stars may align for the German at Roland Garros this year.
The 2020 US Open runner-up has a remarkable French Open record, having made at least the quarter-final in five of the last six years which includes three straight semi-final efforts.
The key to the world number four’s chance is that he arrives in the French capital operating at the peak of his powers, having warmed up with a title triumph in Rome, which is one of the biggest clay-court events of the season outside of this Grand Slam.
Zverev has been handed a tricky opening draw against 14-time champion Nadal but the 37-year-old no longer looks capable of his past heroics and the German should exploit his lack of sharpness before putting up a bold bid for a maiden Grand Slam title.
The latest French Open men’s singles odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Take note of rejuvenated Tsitsipas
The clay-court campaign is when Tsitsipas tends to come to life and that has been the case again this season, with the Greek star winning in Monte Carlo and finishing runner-up in Barcelona.
The 25-year-old has made a final, a semi-final and a quarter-final from his last four French Open visits and he has lost only three of his 16 matches on the slower surface this season.
That makes him a strong title contender and, with Alcaraz and Sinner having something to prove, he could be the player they all have to beat in the bottom half of the draw.
The latest French Open men’s singles odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
With Nadal competing in only his second Grand Slam since the 2023 Australian Open, Djokovic yet to win a title this season and Alcaraz and Sinner having had their preparations disrupted, there is an open feel to this year’s French Open.
The first port of call is with Zverev, despite the fact that the German has been handed a nightmare first-round showdown with Nadal.
However, Nadal has played in three clay-court events since April and has failed to go beyond the last 16 in any, suggesting that he is going to be vulnerable.
Zverev, having warmed up with a Masters 1000 success in Rome, is expected to come through that and from there the draw will open up for him, with Rune arguably his toughest test before the semi-final.
Djokovic or Ruud could be waiting in the last four but, on the balance of all recent form, Zverev should have the edge was that to be the case.
Djokovic has suffered defeats to Luca Nardi, Ruud and Alejandro Tabilo in his three events prior to his last start in the Geneva Open, so is clearly not firing on all cylinders.
The bottom half of the draw is where Alcaraz and Sinner are berthed but, with each having a point to prove following recent withdrawals, Tsitsipas is the man to follow.
The Greek star has made the quarter-final at Roland Garros in three of the last four seasons, which includes a runner-up effort in 2021, and he has refound his best form of late.
Tsitsipas won the Monte Carlo Masters and was runner-up in Barcelona in April and, while a quarter-final with Alcaraz may happen, the Spaniard has his conditioning to prove having made only one tournament appearance since the end of March.
