Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz showdown at French Open has a clear winner
Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz went into Roland Garros with huge injury doubts hovering over them and one of them has answered a few more questions than the other.
With Australian Open champion Sinner and Wimbledon champion Alcaraz playing on the same day at this year’s Roland Garros, we don’t have to wait long every other day to give a verdict on the two contenders vying to lift their first title in Paris – and it is clear that Sinner has a big edge on his rival right now.
That verdict is easy to reach after Alcaraz laboured to a second-round victory over Dutch qualifier Jesper de Jong, in a match that raised more questions about his chances of lasting the course at the French Open.
The Spanish third seed and reigning Wimbledon champion, who has been battling a forearm injury for two months, needed four sets to see off the world No 176.
The warning signs were there when Alcaraz, once again wearing a support sleeve to protect his injured right arm, was broken in his first service game.
He quickly recovered that break and took the first two sets, but the forehand was definitely lacking its usual whip and power.
That was to take nothing away from De Jong, who was playing well above his ranking despite struggling physically himself.
Indeed, Britain’s Jack Draper may feel a little better about his surprise defeat to De Jong in the first round after the 23-year-old broke Alcaraz twice on the way to taking the third set, but De Jong was visibly tiring in the fourth set despite forcing another early break of serve.
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He was unable to hold on to his own serve, sprinkling in too many double faults as Alcaraz got over the line 6-3 6-4 2-6 6-2 in just over three hours.
“I prefer not to spend too much time on the court, I want to be in good shape for the next round but every match is different,” Alcaraz said.
“It’s good for me to get the rhythm, but I prefer to spend less hours on court.
“Jesper showed that the ranking doesn’t matter. I’m sure that he is going to break the top 100.”
Alcaraz’s stuttering display in the day sessions was followed up by a polished performance from Sinner under the lights at Roland Garros.
Sinner’s hip problem forced him to pull out of the Madrid Open at the quarter-final stage and he then missed the Rome Masters with an injury that was reported to be close to ruling him out of Roland Garros.
Yet on the evidence of his first two matches in Paris, Sinner looks ready to challenge for his second Grand Slam of 2024, with his clinical demolition of French hero Richard Gasquet displaying the relentless brilliance that has been his trademark this year.
Sinner has now won 30 matches this year and is a remarkable 50-4 since last year’s US Open, with this latest win taking him a step towards the world No 1 ranking for the first time in his career.
“For sure better than the first match,” was Sinner’s verdict after beating Gasquet 6-4 6-2 6-4. “We try to keep practising and improve day by day.
“I know I can improve a couple of things. I’m looking forward to it. It’s a very special tournament for me so hopefully I can show some good tennis.”
Sinner may be keen to play down his hopes of a first French Open title, but he appears to be moving well and should be a contender at the back end of Roland Garros.
As for Alcaraz, he will get another chance to move through the gear if his arm will allow him to when he meets either American Sebastian Korda or South Korean Kwon Soon-woo in the third round.
