A year ago, Rafael Nadal was forced to withdraw from the 3rd round of the French Open due to a wrist injury. Twelve months later, he looks so dominant cruising throughout the clay court swing. Those three titles in a row in Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, and Madrid are the confirmation showing that the Spaniard can still dominate the men's tennis. He will turn 31 years old in about a week, and it would the perfect gift if he will complete another French Open title. His consistency during the clay season comes in a moment when all other top competitors are struggling to find their pace.
Still, the rankings put Nadal as the fourth seed in Paris with Djokovic swimming in the same half of the draw.
Djokovic has Agassi in his corner and will try to defend his title in Paris
Novak Djokovic, the current world no. 2 is the defending champion at Roland Garros. Accomplishing the Career Slam, the Serb has been struggling to find a new motivation to keep the level of intensity as high as possible. Having the first part of 2017 way below expectations, he went on changing the old-established coaching staff.
Bringing in Andre Agassi is a bold though risky move as the former tennis player has no experience whatsoever in the coaching field. A challenge for the both sides involved of which Djokovic hopes to emerge as a winner.
Ranked second in the world, he might wanna defend his points. From that point of view, his potential clash with Nadal in the semis has a high steak. If Nadal gets past the Serb, the Spaniard will get closer in the ranking.
Andy Murray seeks the maiden French Open title
The world no. 1 is leading the pack in the upper half of the draw sharing battlefield with the Swiss no.
1 Stan Wawrinka. Wawrinka and Murray could cross their trajectories in the semis. Analyzing the draw, it seems that Murray has a seemingly easier path. But, nothing has to be taken for granted especially in a Grand Slam contest. Struggling on clay this season was not an easy medicine for the world no. 1 so the French Open could be his chance for a reset.
In head to head stats, Nadal has a 17-7 lead over Murray though the Scot won their last meeting on clay.
The younger ATP stars like Thiem, Zverev or Kyrgios could make a solid opposition
Dominic Thiem is another consistent player who made some of the highlights of the ongoing clay court swing along with Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard got past Thiem in Barcelona and later in Madrid, each time in the final of the tournament while the Austrian ousted him last week in Rome. But none of these three is placed in Nadal's quarter. The third quarter of the draw has Grigor Dimitrov or Jack Sock as a possible opposition. Nadal and Dimitrov delivered a five sets thriller back in January while fighting for a place in the Australian Open's final.
The overall results of 2017, especially those on the clay court put Nadal on top of the list. Still, nothing is sure in this contest so in about two weeks the burning question will have its answer.
