Exclusive: Bjorn Borg backs flawless Carlos Alcaraz to be No.1 for 'many years', hopes to see Rafa Nadal at French Open

05.05.2023 - 18:37 eurosport.com

Flawless Carlos Alcaraz will be world No. 1 for “many years”, according to Bjorn Borg, who is crossing his fingers that Rafael Nadal can recover from injury in time to feature at the French Open.

Alcaraz celebrated his 20th birthday by progressing to the Madrid Open final with a straight-sets win over Borna Coric on Friday.

Ad The Spaniard is closing in on ousting Novak Djokovic from the top of the ATP rankings; victory in the Madrid final against Jan-Lennard Struff or Aslan Karatsev would mean he just needs to compete at the Rome Masters to become No.

1 again. ATP Madrid'It means a lot to me' — Alcaraz battles past Coric to reach Madrid Open final2 HOURS AGO Speaking in an exclusive interview with Eurosport, 11-time Grand Slam winner Borg waxed lyrical about the Spaniard’s potential. “After this week he’s going to be No.

tennis Barcelona 1 Rafael Nadal Carlos Alcaraz Roland Garros Rafa Nadal Aslan Karatsev France Spain Madrid Rome

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz were drawn in the same half of the French Open, meaning a potential semi-final between the two tournament favourites is possible in the most open men’s singles draw at Roland Garros in 19 years.

Novak Djokovic And Carlos Alcaraz In Same Half Of French Open Draw

Novak Djokovic could face world number one Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals of the French Open after both players were placed in the same half of the draw on Thursday. Djokovic is chasing a record 23rd men's Grand Slam title in the absence of the injured Rafael Nadal, who will miss the tournament at Roland Garros for the first time since his 2005 title-winning debut. The third-seeded Djokovic, Roland Garros champion in 2016 and 2021, meets 114th-ranked Aleksandar Kovacevic of the US in the first round in Paris -- the first French Open since 1998 without Nadal or the now retired Roger Federer.

French Open draw: Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev to face qualifiers, Novak Djokovic takes on Aleksandar Kovacevic

Top seed Carlos Alcaraz will face a qualifier in the first round of the French Open. Alcaraz is among the favourites to win at Roland-Garros, alongside Novak Djokovic, after 14-time champion Rafael Nadal announced he would not defend his title owing to injury.

Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic on same half of French Open draw - ESPN

PARIS — Carlos Alcaraz and the man he just replaced atop the rankings, 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, were placed in the same half of the French Open field in Thursday's draw and could face each other in the semifinals.

Novak Djokovic ‘the most disappointed’ player with Rafael Nadal’s Roland-Garros absence - Mats Wilander

Novak Djokovic will be “the most disappointed” player with Rafael Nadal’s absence from the French Open, according to Eurosport expert Mats Wilander. Nadal — a 14-time Roland-Garros champion — pulled out of the tournament last week due to a lack of fitness.