Daniil Medvedev sighed deeply. He had been asked in his pre-French Open press conference to provide some of the intel he gleaned from his spectacular last battle, yet for once he did not have much to say. Medvedev had produced a brilliant performance in the semi-finals of the Italian Open last week, eviscerating the ball off both sides and dragging his opponent off the baseline, scarcely making an error despite their incredibly physical, attritional battle. It was the best level any player had shown against Jannik Sinner, the current undisputed No 1, since the Australian Open in January. He still left the court with only one set.
“It’s super tough,” said Medvedev on the challenge of facing Sinner. “Actually, any match that we saw even this year, because I think he lost only two, the only way to beat him, you need to be at your best for all four, five sets. You need to run, be strong, to serve well, to return well. Everything needs to be on the top level, because him, his game is everything at the top level.”
The narrative surrounding the men’s tournament at the French Open this year is simple. Sinner has proven himself the dominant player in the world and, in the injury-enforced absence of his great rival, Carlos Alcaraz, who saved triple-championship point to defeat Sinner in one of the greatest grand slam finals last year, few players have proven they can even consistently compete with the No 1. This French Open pits Sinner versus the rest of the field: 127 of the best tennis players in the world are charged with trying to halt the unstoppable. Anything can happen in sport, but their odds are far from encouraging.
One year on from the most heartbreaking defeat of his career, Sinner returns to Paris in arguably the best form of his life. He has already achieved so much in recent weeks; Sinner’s maiden triumph on home soil at the Italian Open afforded him one of the most impressive achievements in history, with the 24-year-old becoming just the second man to win every Masters 1000 title after a 31-year-old Novak Djokovic in 2018.
Sinner’s record-breaking winning streak at Masters 1000 events now stands at 34 matches with the Italian having won six consecutive titles at this level. He begins this tournament on an overall 29-match winning streak. The potential gains from this tournament are even greater. Sinner returns to Paris chasing immortality as he tries to complete the career grand slam. By doing so, he would follow Djokovic again by becoming the second player in history to win every annual big tournament available on the tour: four grand slams, nine Masters 1000 titles, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup.
Multiple things can be true at once. Sinner is performing at such an incredibly high level in practically every match he contests, but it is difficult to recall a less impressive field of challengers. Alexander Zverev, the second seed, has now lost nine consecutive matches against Sinner along with 14 sets in succession. It is remarkable that Djokovic, who defeated Sinner to reach the Australian Open final in January, is still a contender. However, having turned 39 years old on Friday, he has accordingly struggled to remain healthy all year. Aside from Medvedev, the rest of the top players are either in poor form, at their least effective on clay, or simply levels below the standards set by Sinner each week.
Things could scarcely be any more different in the women’s field, a draw that is overflowing with contenders. The current top 10 remains one of the strongest and deepest in years and, among them, so many good players are capable of winning the title. Nine of the top 10 players currently hold a grand slam or WTA 1000 title.
Aryna Sabalenka has been the undisputed best player over the past few years, performing with such remarkable consistency. She remains one of the leading favourites having put together an incredible four-year run at the grand slams, reaching the semi-finals in 12 of her last 13 appearances. However, having failed to reach the semi-finals in either of her pre-Paris clay-court appearances, the No 1 is more vulnerable before a slam than in recent years.
If Sabalenka falters at all, there are numerous players capable of smiting her. Elena Rybakina continues to lead the WTA race after winning the Australian Open in January and she is dangerous on all surfaces. Iga Swiatek has been handed a tough draw but she appears to be on an upward curve after her appointment of Francisco Roig as her new coach and she is attempting to win the French Open for an astounding fifth time. Coco Gauff, who toppled Sabalenka in an unforgettable three-setter last year, has found her footing at the perfect time before her title defence.
There are many others. Elina Svitolina arrives fresh off her title at the Italian Open and has never looked more capable of competing for a grand slam title. Jessica Pegula and Mirra Andreeva will be tough obstacles for all adversaries. At the same time that the rest of the men’s field attempts to chase down one remarkable, all-time great champion, the women’s event will be a monumental battle.