Could Taylor Fritz, Jan-Lennard Struff, Jelena Ostapenko or Qinwen Zheng surprise with deep French Open run?

Rafael Nadal might be missing, but the pool of players expected to challenge for victory at the 2023 French Open still doesn't look that big. Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are the favourites on the men’s side, with former runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas and Italian Open finalists Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune also in the mix. Ad Defending champion Iga Swiatek leads the women’s field ahead of world No.

2 Aryna Sabalenka and Italian Open champion Elena Rybakina. Roland-GarrosExclusive: Ruud tips friend Nadal to challenge for French Open in 2024AN HOUR AGO But who could spring a surprise with a deep run in Paris? Taylor Fritz He might be the world No. 9, but Taylor Fritz is not the first name you think of when you pick out the French Open contenders.

But Fritz has had a perhaps unexpectedly good clay season. In Monte Carlo he became the first American in 20 years to reach the semi-finals, taking out defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas in impressive style in the quarters. He followed up with a run to the semis in Munich, and in Madrid had three match points before losing to Zhizhen Zhang in the last 16.

Fritz has said this year he still feels “not natural” on clay, but he’s had some good results and looks to be growing more comfortable on the surface. He hasn’t yet made a run at the French Open — his best is a third-round appearance in 2020 — but could make a dent this year. Jan-Lennard Struff Was Jan-Lennard Struff’s run from qualifying to the Madrid Open final just a brilliant two-week blast? Or is the 33-year-old enjoying a true resurgence? He has certainly impressed over the last six weeks.