Roland is back! Between Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek, these are all headliners who meet for the French Open, from Sunday May 22 to June 5. HAS the day before the start of Roland-Garros, here are the five reasons not to miss the 2022 edition of the biggest French tennis tournament.
The public finally free
After two years of a tournament disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, fans will finally find the stands at the Porte d’Auteuil without a curfew or gauge. Amélie Mauresmo, the director of the event, is delighted: “All land should be filled”because “tickets are over 90-95% sold out.”
Likewise, all the categories (including the Legends Trophy) are making a comeback on Parisian clay. Children’s Day is also coming back. In sum, tll the lights are green to offer the public a great fortnight.
The last dance of Tsonga and Simon
This Roland-Garros will be an opportunity for two emblematic French players to bow out. Gilles Simon (159th at ATP) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (267th) received an invitation for the final table from the organizing committee.
The first announced that he would leave the professional circuit at the end of the year. Sixth player in the world at his peak in January 2009, Gilles Simon, winner of 14 ATP tournaments, reached two quarter-finals in the Grand Slam and participated in 2017 in the coronation of the Blues in the Davis Cup. Present on the ATP circuit since 2004, the Niçois will play his 17th Roland-Garros at 37 years old.
“Jo” announced at the beginning of April that this fortnight in paris would be the last tournament of his career, for his 13th participation in the French Major. Winner of two Masters 1000 (at Bercy in 2008 then in Toronto in 2014), but also a finalist at the Australian Open in 2008 and winner of the Davis Cup, Manceau has the second best record of French men’s tennis in the world. Open era, with 18 titles. Only Yannick Noah did better with his 23 coronations.
“Roland, I love you” @tsonga7 has announced he will retire after this year’s Roland-Garros. See you very soon, Jo! pic.twitter.com/ZaveBd3G7I
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) April 6, 2022
Despite an exit in the first round of the Lyon tournament at the start of the week, the former world number 5 (in 2012) hopes to delight the heart of French supporters at Roland-Garros. He had reached the semi-finals of the tournament in 2013 and 2015.
Possible reunion between Nadal and Djokovic
Rafael Nadal is at home on the clay courts of Roland-Garros. Thirteen times winner, the Majorcan is coming for his 22nd Grand Slam success, which would allow him to widen the gap with Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic (20 victories). The only unknown on the board: his chronic foot injury (which caused his defeat in the second round in Rome) which could handicap him during the fortnight. In the past two years, the Spaniard has already defied the odds on his state of health by winning the 2020 edition and reaching the semi-final in 2021.
But Novak Djokovic does not intend to give him his property. The two men could also meet in the quarter-finals.
1000 – Novak #Djokovic is the fifth player in the Open Era to win 1000 matches on the ATP Tour. Joker. pic.twitter.com/cIPtlT1Mc5
— OptaAce (@OptaAce) May 14, 2022
The world number one, defending champion at Roland-Garros, also dreams of adding a major trophy to his showcase, especially the year his name made headlines at the Australian Open, in because of his desire not to be vaccinated against Covid-19. With his victory at the Rome tournament, the Serb has put himself in the best conditions to come and lift the Musketeers Cup.
The record of sisters Williams in sight for Swiatek
Iga Swiatek is unstoppable. World number one, former winner of Roland-Garros in 2020, empress of Rome after her quick victory against Ons Jabeur, the 20-year-old player is having an impressive season. This will be his first participation in a Grand Slam tournament as a leader in the WTA.
The sets disputed by @iga_swiatek since the start of his 28-game winning streak
✅❌✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅❌✅✅❌✅✅❌✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅❌✅✅✅ ✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅✅
➡️ 56 sets won, 5 sets conceded
➡️ 2.5 games lost per set on average pic.twitter.com/W50ZJSXVrZ— Game, Set and Maths (@JeuSetMaths) May 15, 2022
On the courts of Roland-Garros, she could add a new feat of arms to her record. With 28 consecutive victories on the clock, she would exceed in the event of victory in the final, on June 4, the marks of Justine Henin (32), Serena Williams (34) and would equal that of Venus Williams (35). The Polish would however remain far from the legendary feat of the American Martina Navratilova, who had chained 74 games without defeat in 1984.
How far will the prodigy Alcaraz go?
Those who are not interested in this edition of Roland-Garros will perhaps miss the advent of a new era: that of Carlos Alcaraz. Jmost successful player this seasonthe young Spaniard is already one of the bettors’ favorites for victory in Paris.
HAS 19 years old, he has just won his first major title in Madrid, defeating his idol, Rafael Nadal, in the quarter, Novak Djokovic in the semi-final, then Alexander Zverev in the final. No one had yet managed to beat “Rafa” and “Nole” on clay in the same tournament. Forfeited in Rome, the Murcian preferred to focus on his recovery before Roland-Garros. HAS Paris, the Alcaraz prodigy will have the mission of confirming his new status, as well as taking up his next challenge: winning a Grand Slam.