King of clay: Who Will stop Rafael Nadal in Roland Garros?

A possible semi-final against his chief rival Novak Djokovic has thrown up lots of intrigue from the men's contest. The women's tournament had sufficient fascination. In reality it has been in the character of women's tennis in the past couple of decades, since Serena Williams' dominance has waned, the women's match has been much more interesting to observe compared to guys, which has continued to be characterised by three players.

Whereas Naomi Osaka, seeded No two in Paris is a course besides hardcourt, that's probably not true on clay. The Western starlet has fought on the'red dirt', not able to get beyond the next round at four previous visits to Roland Garros. That does not mean, but there are not definite favourites. A trio of players headed by World No 1 Ashleigh Barty, winner at 2019, present champion Iga Swiatek and Belarussian powerhouse Aryna Sabalenka, stand out as the key contenders, every underlining their standing by winning each of those huge build-up tournaments before Roland Garros.

That isn't to say, there are not opportunities for upsets. Actually it's in the essence of women's tennis a participant emerges from the shadows, if it's the new name such as Jennifer Brady, runner-up in Australia earlier this season, or even a veteran like Victoria Azarenka, that left it into the final of the US Open this past year, the women's game provides a number the men's competition can not match.

Of the 3 chief contenders, Sabalenka, that obtained in Madrid this season, beating Barty at the closing, has dropped on the ideal half of the attraction.

These are at the bottom half, and have no need to be concerned about Nadal and Novak Djokovic as well as Roger Federer, who's making his Grand Slam comeback, and has been drawn at the upper half, using a possible quarter-final against Djokovic from the offing.

For the trio of that which was called'next gen' stars nevertheless, the lack of Rafa and Nole (among Djokovic's nicknames), means there are loads of expectations, maybe not so much from people seeing, but more from themselves.

Zverev, is in-form and even though his off-court controversies, really motivated this season. He won in Madrid, beating Nadal across the way, even though the excellent Spaniard returned the favour a week afterwards in Rome. He's most likely the favorite to emerge in the bottom half, but wants to prevent lengthy struggles from the very first week, to'rescue his legs' because the contest gets tougher, if he wishes to win his first Major.

Tsitsipas, seeded No 5, includes an extremely friendly quarter, and also a rather clear route to the semi-final. No 2 seed Daniil Medvedev is that part of the attraction, the Russian hasn't won a game at Roland Garros, a curious anomaly which has thrown up just how bizarre the seeding process is for this season's tournament.

"I find it as ordinary. 1 participant is all but 40 (Federer), yet another is nearly 35 (Nadal) and another is 34 (Djokovic). It appears plausible that younger gamers (will) rise in the ranks," Nadal said of their seedings at Paris.

"Whenever that happens you've got these effects (together with all the seedings). I see it as totally normal. I am not concerned about it. I've got a good deal of work facing me to play with an expected game versus Djokovic."

Just how much of a variable will Federer be? No one, including the fantastic Swiss, expects him to add to his own 2009 name at Roland Garros, and he's spoken of awaiting Wimbledon, and utilizing a brief clay-court season to develop miles from his legs. He opens against the dreamy veteran Denis Istomin, with this quarter-final against Djokovic that a possible outcome if he undergo the first week. In reality, if Federer, who had two knee surgeries this past year, were to turn it in the next week, which would constitute a massive success given the period of time he has missed and clay is his least favorite surface.

Champion picks Girls

- When Barty is over her elbow difficulty, she's the wisdom and ability to grow her 2019 success.