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Expert picks: Who will win Roland Garros in 2024?

Expert picks: Who will win Roland Garros in 2024?

DOKIC: “It’s hard to see someone stopping her, isn’t it. For me she’s turning into that dominance of Rafa; I know he’s got so many more Roland Garros titles, but she’s only 22 years of age. She’s going for her fourth in five years. So that is that kind of clay dominance like Nadal, winning all of these 1000 tournaments on clay. It really reminds me of a Steffi Graf-type of consistency, in winning all of those matches, and just the brutality of it. She doesn’t lose focus. It’s incredible. I think she and Sabalenka are really developing a rivalry. Rybakina, when she’s healthy and playing consistently, can cause damage. To be honest, on clay, for me, the only one that’s got kind of the complete package is Iga.”

MASUR: “There’s players who can beat her, there’s no question, but you would almost think that Swiatek has to be a little off, or conditions have to be a little lively and someone like a Sabalenka or Rybakina are completely on. Unless the expectations just make Swiatek overcome with the moment, but I don’t think so. It’s on her racquet, put it that way. But think about Gauff, Keys, Haddad Maia, Ostapenko; there are players who on a given day can disrupt proceedings.”

Men’s defending champion Djokovic has looked almost the opposite to Swiatek coming into Paris. Can he repeat his triumph and remain at No.1?

STOSUR: “It’s all about his mental space and where he’s at right now. We all know how good he normally is and it’s being critical right now to say he’s lacking in something. But by his standards, he really is. That 6-2 6-3 loss in Rome is just unfathomable; that just does not happen.”

WOODBRIDGE: “I think it’s a good move playing Geneva, I think he needs matches under his belt. He needs to get into that routine of winning. I think fitness is OK; it’s actually the mindset, he has not been switched on in matches. And when he’s like that, he doesn’t play anywhere near his very best tennis. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen him like that. You know what could work? And this is an outside stab – ring up Goran and get him back. There’s nobody that he can go to in the team that knows better how he reacts under pressure.”

DOKIC: “Don’t take anything away from Djokovic, because he thrives with kind of going against adversity, and maybe people not looking at him as the favourite, like they weren’t last year. We’ll see how much he’s able to get out of this week; everyone is really surprised that he’s playing Geneva. That would signal that he just wants matches. If he gets a few matches, players like him get confidence very very quickly.”

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MASUR: “Djokovic is interesting, because in recent years he’s played a very careful schedule, and has absolutely timed it right, to get enough matches to be rested yet physically ready and confident to be ready for a Slam. That doesn’t appear to be the case in his lead-up to the French. Didn’t get the result he wanted in Rome, which would have been a bit of a surprise, so he’s obviously looking for a bit more on-court time. When a player like Tabilo beats Novak (in Rome), it’s a bit like there’s blood in the water. The sharks circle. There’s a sense that he’s vulnerable. Instead of the idea he’s absolutely infallible, people get a little more belief when they step out on court (against him). But never, ever discount him – he is a champion.”

How many men do you consider to be legitimate title chances at Roland Garros in 2024?

STOSUR: “I think 15 is out there. But if you’re one of those guys, you have to think that. So it depends how you want to look at it. Rublev is I think someone we haven’t spoken about at all; he won Madrid, he’s been consistent, he’s been to the quarters (at Roland Garros). He’s got a big game that he actually can do damage with, a little bit more than someone like Ruud. The guys you would think would be the ones stepping up to take that championship – Sinner and Alcaraz – are under injury clouds, and now Tsitsipas is coming up, putting his hand up. I quite like what Zverev is doing at the moment. Then you’ve got Djokovic; he’s going to Geneva this week to see what he can do there, and that in itself is quite intriguing for me. And will it be Rafa’s final Roland Garros as well? So there’s going to be lots of emotion around.”

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WOODBRIDGE: “Six. If I can rattle them off, I’d would say Djokovic, Sinner, Alcaraz – if they’re fit – Zverev, Tsitsipas, and you’ve got to put Ruud in there. He’s two-time runner-up. But he’s the one that doesn’t have the extra weapon to win. If I was to look right now with the preparation leading in plus the way they have performed at Roland Garros, I’d say an outside chance goes to Zverev. Having won in Rome, having had good memories in Paris, in the sense of playing the very best tennis of his life before he blew his ankle out, but then managing to come back and make the semis last year when he hadn’t had form. It’s a feel-good place for him, and there’s a big opportunity there for him to win a Slam. But also, Tsitsipas is my player that I’m looking at. I think his form, over the clay-court season, has brought him back to being in that space.”