(Provided by Tennis World USA)
The 20-year-old Carlos Alcaraz will lead the seeds at a Major for the first time in Paris. The Spaniard will become world no. 1 on Monday despite an early Rome Masters loss, heading the Roland Garros field ahead of Novak Djokovic.
Carlos will travel to Paris alongside his team on Wednesday, May 24. If he delivers his best tennis, the last year’s quarter-finalist should be among the favorites, chasing his second Major crown after the last year’s US Open
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Alcaraz experienced his third season loss to Fabian Marozsan in the Rome Masters third round. The young gun went home and will train on Friday and Saturday at the Equeilte Academy in Villena with his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, using the Roland Garros balls.
Carlos will rest on Sunday and Monday and work again in Murcia on Monday and Tuesday before heading to Paris on Wednesday. Alcaraz’s first press conference in Paris should come next Friday.
Carlos Alcaraz will be the top seed at Roland Garros.
The 20-year-old led the ATP Race before Rome, winning four titles in 2023 and securing his 23rd world no. 1 week in four days. Carlos conquered Buenos Aires, Indian Wells, Barcelona and Madrid, setting his eyes on the fifth crown in Paris.
The Spaniard debuted at Roland Garros in 2021, passing three qualifying rounds to enter the main draw and falling in the third round to Jan-Lennard Struff. A year ago, Alcaraz reached the quarter-final in Paris, battling against Alexander Zverev for a place in the last four.
Two rivals fought for three hours and 18 minutes, and the German prevailed 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 to set the clash against Rafael Nadal. Carlos gave his best on Court Philippe-Chatrier, missing a set point in the fourth set tie break and losing a match after 14 consecutive victories.
It was Alexander’s first top-10 victory at Majors, achieving it at 25! The German served at 71% and threw everything he had at his opponent. Zverev saved four out of six break points and delivered three return games from eight opportunities to seal the deal ahead of the decider.
Alexander had 39 winners and 34 unforced errors, matching the rival’s pace and reducing the number of mistakes. Alcaraz counted 46 winners and 56 errors, spraying too many loose strokes and missing a set point in the fourth set’s tie break to plague his chances.
Carlos should be the favorite in Paris ahead of Novak Djokovic, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Jannik Sinner and Holger Rune, especially if he produces his best tennis.
