The Men’s Singles tournament at the 2024 French Open has already begun, but we’ve just barely got into the action. The men’s draw is pretty open, with several true contenders for the trophy. Let’s look through the draw at who has the best chances to bring home a Major title–and who doesn’t.
Assessing the 2024 French Open Men’s Contenders
Novak Djokovic
CASE FOR: He is the current French Open holder, having claimed the title a year ago, along with 23 other Grand Slams.
CASE AGAINST: Even if it has been serially overstated that his recent form amounts to serious concern–defeats to Ruud at Monte Carlo and Tabilo in Rome followed by failure to reach the final of Geneva–the rapid erosion of the 37-year-old’s dominance has occurred in tandem with the rise of certain NextGen stars (more on them below). The Serb’s infinite and ingrained insularity ensures he won’t be paying the chorus of critics too much attention, though, and he is always dangerous when in “prove them wrong” mode.
Jannik Sinner
CASE FOR: The 22-year-old Italian is now looked at with considerable envy and abiding regard, due to an outstanding first half of 2024 in which he followed his Australian Open crown with the Rotterdam 500 and Miami 1000. A grand total of two defeats in 30 has taken the Tyrolian to second in the world, and one can advance an argument he will surpass that in a fortnight.
CASE AGAINST: Whilst “hard court specialist” may be a broad-brush slogan, it is worth noting that 16 of his tour finals have been on this surface, with just a solitary final on clay. In addition, he fell victim to an early shock last year, going down to Germany’s Daniel Altmaier in a five-and-a-half-hour marathon.
Carlos Alcaraz
CASE FOR: With a Slam conquered in each of the last two years, the 21-year-old Spaniard has arguably already entered the milieu of greatness. His quality on clay is undeniable, with heavy ground strokes and a wealth of well-placed drop shots bringing about seven of his 13 career titles.
CASE AGAINST: There remains the possibility, indeed probability, that a recent forearm injury–begetting his absence from Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome–will encumber his progress, and that a high-pressure “clutch” situation could cause physical cramping, as happened in last year’s semifinal.
Alexander Zverev
CASE FOR: The German, who burst onto the scene a decade ago, and was for some years seen as a serious competitor to the “Big 3”–insofar as it was possible for anyone to be–has made a laudable attempt at seizing Roland Garros, reaching the semifinals in each of the last three years. Attention must also be drawn to his impressive sixth Masters success at Rome last week (fourth on clay).
CASE AGAINST: At 27, the fact he has still yet to claim a Slam perhaps hangs over Zverev in Damoclesian fashion. He would also be well advised to expend minimal effort during the early rounds, since some unnecessarily lengthy matches have led to latter-stage burnout in the past. Also, a first-round matchup with Rafael Nadal presents a brutal hurdle for a title contender.
Casper Ruud
CASE FOR: The solid-but-unspectacular Norwegian has for years been dealing in the iron-clad certainties of claiming low-level (250) clay titles, with Geneva last week being the latest of ten such examples. He can also boast 19 match wins at the French Open–-as many as at the other slams combined–with runs to the final in 2022 and 2023, only ended by Nadal and Djokovic, respectively.
CASE AGAINST: Until Barcelona last month, there had been a joyless procession of seven straight defeats in finals above 250 level. Early exits to Miomir Kecmanović in Rome and Felix Auger-Aliassime in Madrid–neither of whom are bona fide clay specialists – casts doubt on whether the 25-year-old will go one better this time around.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
CASE FOR: Completing a hat-trick of Monte Carlo trophies in April boosts the Greek’s claims, as does a Roland Garros runner-up position in 2021. His one-handed backhand can elevate his game onto a rarefied pedestal at times.
CASE AGAINST: Having been outplayed by Holger Rune and Alcaraz in the last two editions of the French Open, it is as least as likely such an event will recur. His 2024 form prior to the Monaco magic was also patchy (11-6) and saw him drop out of the Top 10.
Holger Rune
CASE FOR: The likeable Dane’s career apogee so far was surely his shock triumph at the Paris Masters 18 months ago, in which he became the first player on record to eliminate half the top 10 from the same event–giving his tournament a resonance beyond its immediate sphere. Whilst the momentum that led to four straight finals back then has long since evaporated, the French capital has witnessed back-to-back quarterfinals on its clay, a surface upon which the 21-year-old has always excelled.
CASE AGAINST: Having tumbled down the rankings from 4th last August to a current 13th, as well as stalling at the last 32 stage of Madrid and Rome, it may be the case that the gulf between Rune and the elite is so wide as to appear unbridgeable.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
