By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, May 25, 2023
King of clay Rafael Nadal the famous saying that suffering is a prerequisite for the success of Roland Garros.
In the absence of Nadal in Paris, Novak Djokovic looks at the difficult road to history.
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Beginning his quest to win the men’s record at the 23rd Grand Slam Championship in Paris, Djokovic faces a potentially painful road to his seventh final in Paris.
The 2023 Roland Garros draw was held in Paris today and ranks first in the world Carlos Alcaraz and Djokovic in the same top half of the loaded tie.
This means that if the seeds hold their form, Australian Open and Wimbledon champion Djokovic would have to face US Open champion Alcaraz in the semi-finals.
The top half of the field includes only two former French Open men’s champions in the field – Djokovic and the 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka— as well as the 2021 finalist Stefanos Tsitsipascurrent Monte-Carlo champion Andrei Rublev, Lorenzo Musetti, who owns a clay court win over Djokovic this season, Cameron Norrie, who has won the final on clay courts over Alcaraz, Karen Khachanov AND Happy Auger – also.
The @Roland Garros Men’s first half draw: pic.twitter.com/Xo8GUs7TNw
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) May 25, 2023
The @Roland Garros Men’s bottom half draw: pic.twitter.com/yERucmBO8j
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) May 25, 2023
It was a bittersweet day of the draw as organizers, media and fans faced a tie without 14-time champion Nadal, who has played in Paris every year since his debut in 2005 when he defeated Argentine left-hander Mariano Puerta to win his first major title .
“(Nadal’s withdrawal) was greeted with sadness. First of all, I thought a lot about him, we know that his history is closely related to this tournament,” said the tournament director. Amelie Mauresmo he told the media in Paris after the draw. “It was sad but today is (a tie) so we also have to say that it will open up opportunities for other players.
“Personally, I think Carlos Alcaraz arrives very well prepared. Novak Djokovic, even if he hasn’t won many matches lately, is still dangerous, especially in a Grand Slam.”
World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev anchors the lower half of the draw.
Fresh from his first career clay court crown in Rome, Medvedev should be content with his draw.
The 2021 US Open champion will begin his qualifying match against his first potential seed opponent with the number 27 seed, number 27 Yoshihito Nishioka.
Vice Champion of Rome Holger Runewho has reached three finals in four clay court tournaments this season, Roland Garros 2022 finalist Kacper RuudNo. 8-seeded Jannik Sinner, Olympic gold medalist Alexander ZverevCincinnati champion Borna CoricNo. 9-seeded Taylor Fritz AND Franciszek Cerundola are among the hazards at the bottom of the draw.
Image credit: Getty
