Three talking points ahead of clay-court season

PARIS: Czech teenager Jakub Mensik and Aryna Sabalenka emerged victorious at the Miami Open last weekend, but their attentions will now turn to the European clay-court swing with all eyes on Roland Garros.

Novak Djokovic will be bidding to finally clinch his 100th title before the French Open starts on May 25, after a narrow miss in Miami.

Iga Swiatek is hoping a return to her favorite surface can bring an up-tick in form, while several youngsters are looking to back up impressive starts to the year.

Here, AFP Sport takes a look at three talking points ahead of the European clay-court season:

The men’s buildup to the French Open starts this weekend at the Monte Carlo Masters, where Djokovic is aiming to lift the title for the first time since 2015.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has not won a tournament since the Paris Olympics and questions about his future were raised after successive shock defeats by Matteo Berrettini and Botic van de Zandschulp, following an injury-enforced retirement from his Australian Open semifinal against Alexander Zverev.

But Djokovic, who turns 38 in May, returned to form in Miami by cruising into the final without dropping a set, before being edged out by Mensik.

“Miami really brought me a lot of joy and really good sensations on and off the court,” said the former world No. 1.

Djokovic, who has won three French Opens, could set an outright record of 25 Grand Slam titles in Paris this year.

Swiatek has endured a difficult spell, punctuated by a doping ban, and has not reached a final since sealing her fourth Roland Garros crown last year.

The Pole has still been consistently reaching the latter stages of events, but has lost the aura she had when world number one.

Sabalenka has