Tim Henman ‘really believes’ Carlos Alcaraz can win French Open, but says Rafael Nadal is favourite
Former British No 1 Tim Henman feels Rafael Nadal is the “very slight favourite” to win this year’s French Open, but says the impressive Carlso Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic can’t be written off.
Although he has been declared fit to play, Nadal has an injury could hanging over him as his foot problem flared up again at the Italian Open a fortnight ago.
Despite his woes, he is still considered the King of Paris and will be gunning for a 14th title at Roland Garros, and for that reason Henman is backing the 21-time Grand Slam champion.
“I think if Rafa’s foot is healthy – given his record there – you have to make him a very slight favourite, but very close behind him I would have Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz,” he told Eurosport.
Alcaraz is the form player as he heads into the clay-court Grand Slam on the back of four titles this year with two of those coming at his last two events on clay, the Barcelona Open and the Madrid Open, beating the likes of Nadal and Djokovic en route to lifting the trophy in the Spanish capital.
The teenager has surged to a career-high of No 6 as he also won the Rio Open and the Miam Open.
“His confidence is incredible,” Henman said. “It’s going to be a very, very interesting tournament.
“I really believe that Alcaraz can win the French Open. I watched him play in Miami, which was obviously on hard courts, but his movement, his speed, his balance, the power that he’s generating with his groundstrokes, is incredible.
“His attitude on top is amazing. So for him to have won Barcelona and Madrid also, he goes into Roland Garros as one of the favourites in my mind.
“Obviously, if Nadal’s foot is 100% then I still think he is the favourite, but I would put Novak Djokovic and Alcaraz as the second favourites.”
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