French Open: Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek are tennis' rising stars

By Aimee Lewis, CNN

Updated 1012 GMT (1812 HKT) May 20, 2022

Alcaraz celebrates after his title win in Madrid.

(CNN)Twelve months ago, teenagerCarlos Alcaraz needed to qualify to make the main draw of the French Open. This year, he is among the favorites to win the men's section of the tournament.

His is the sort of meteoric rise sport craves and should he achieve what many are predicting — win the Coupes des Mousquetaires on the Parisian clay aged 19 — he will make headlines around the world.When tennis' elite usually descend on Paris for the second grand slam of the year, Rafael Nadal has been the dominant force of the men's game, while the outcome of the women's section has been unpredictable. There have been eight different winners in the last 10 years. Madrid Open victory is 'best week of my life,' says 19-year-old tennis sensation Carlos AlcarazAlcaraz's rise — from 141 in the world at the beginning of last year, to sixth now — offers a much-needed alternative narrative to men's clay court tennis. The Spaniard has won four ATP titles this year — in Rio de Janeiro, Barcelona, Miami and Madrid — beating Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev on his way to the title in his country's capital. Read MorePlayers past and present have been fulsome in their praise for the young Spaniard.Four-time French Open champion Justine Henine said last week in an interview with Belgian newspaper Sudinfo that Alcaraz was «more complete» than Nadal, Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic, while Zverev has described him as the best player «in the world right now.» «He definitely is special,» Djokovic has told reporters, while Nadal has conceded that his compatriot can beat anyone. A new King for the clay? High praise leads to high