The second Grand Slam tournament of the season is upon us. For one tennis star, it’s about his first triumph, for another it’s about defending his title, and for one of the greats, it’s about a final honor.
The tennis elite is gathering once again in Paris. At the French Open, Alexander Zverev is looking to end a long chase. It is the first French Open since Rafael Nadal retired, but the Spaniard is still playing a major role at the Stade Roland Garros. Here are the answers to the most important questions about the clay court classic, which begins on Sunday.
What are the German chances?
Once again, German hopes rest on Zverev. The 28-year-old wants to continue his quest to win his first Grand Slam title. He has come close twice in Paris. In 2022, he played arguably the best tennis of his career in Paris before a serious foot injury stopped him in the semi-finals against Rafael Nadal. Last year, Zverev even reached the final, but was defeated in five sets by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz.
From a German perspective, there is a big gap behind Zverev. In the men’s draw, only Daniel Altmaier and Jan-Lennard Struff are directly in the main draw. In the women’s draw, only the trio of Eva Lys, Tatjana Maria and Laura Siegemund are automatically qualified. Reaching the second week in Paris would be a great success for them.
Who are the tournament favorites?
In the men’s competition, world number one Jannik Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz gave a preview of who the title contenders will be in Paris in the final in Rome. Sinner was back to his best in his first tournament after a three-month doping ban. Nevertheless, he was defeated by Alcaraz in two sets. If the Spaniard stays healthy over the two weeks, he is the top favorite.
The women’s competition appears to be somewhat more open. Aryna Sabalenka arrives as the number one seed and is aiming for her first Grand Slam title of the year after losing to Madison Keys in the final in Melbourne. However, Iga Swiatek is likely to give her a tough time. The Polish player has won the last three editions in Paris and feels most at home at the Stade Roland Garros. Coco Gauff from the US and Italy’s Jasmine Paolini, who recently triumphed impressively in Rome, also have a chance.
What about Rafael Nadal?
No tennis pro has shaped the French Open as much as Rafael Nadal. The Spanish tennis titan has won the clay court spectacle 14 times. Nadal will be missing this year because the Mallorcan retired at the end of last year. Nevertheless, Nadal will be in Paris. On Sunday, the opening day of the French Open, the 38-year-old will be honored by the organizers and given the send-off he deserves from his favorite tournament.
When and where will the tournament be played?
As has been the case in Paris for the past few years, the tournament will start on Sunday. The first round will take place over three days. The women’s final will be held on Saturday, June 7. The men will play for the title one day later.
The Stade Roland Garros in Paris’ Bois de Boulogne is one of the most traditional tennis venues in the world. The center court, the Court Philippe-Chatrier, can hold just over 15,000 spectators.
How much prize money is there?
A total of €56.352 million will be awarded at the second Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season. This is an increase of 5.21 percent compared to last year. The winners in the women’s and men’s competitions will each receive €2.55 million. Those who lose in the first round will still go home with €78,000.
Tennis fans will get their money’s worth on Eurosport. The channel will broadcast more than 240 hours live from Paris on Eurosport 1 and 2. The streaming service discovery+ will even show all matches from the 16 courts live and on demand in full length. Boris Becker and Barbara Rittner will once again be among the experts with their own shows.
