PARIS—Title rivals Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner start their French Open campaigns on Monday as three-time reigning champion Iga Swiatek hopes a return to Roland Garros can shake her out of a slump.
Alcaraz beat Sinner in straight sets in the Italian Open final just over a week ago as the Italian world number one returned from a three-month doping ban.
The Spaniard edged Sinner in five sets in the semi-finals at Roland Garros last year and believes the two-time reigning Australian Open champion will pose an even greater threat to his crown in Paris after brushing off the cobwebs in Rome.
“The level he has played in (Rome) is insane after three months without playing, without any tournament,” said Alcaraz.
“I’m pretty sure he’s going to be better and better.
“If he’s winning in Roland Garros and he’s going farther, I think much better he’s going to feel. He’s going to be a really dangerous player in Paris.”
First up for Alcaraz though is Italian qualifier Giulio Zeppieri, who replaced the injured Kei Nishikori in the draw.
Sinner takes centre stage in the night session against Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who can expect to enjoy much of the support under the lights on Court Philippe Chatrier.
It is the first of two successive potential French opponents for Sinner, who could meet the retiring Richard Gasquet in the second round. Gasquet, 38, takes on another wild card, Terence Atmane, in his 22nd and final Roland Garros.
“It’s definitely going to be different,” Sinner said of the atmosphere that awaits in Paris after he received a warm welcome back in front of home fans in Italy.
“It was great after three months coming back making the final. It was my first big final on clay, which is not to underrate, because we worked a lot for that.”
But he warned against expecting too much at the French Open.
“There are no miracles. I need some time. Matches are different than practice sessions,” said Sinner. “There is a lot of room to improve.”
Sinner served a suspension for testing positive twice in March last year for traces of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol. Doping authorities accepted that it was the result of an accidental contamination involving his physio.
