The 2024 French Open starts on Sunday, May 26, and there are injury concerns over several of the top stars on the ATP Tour. Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray all enter the tournament with some uncertainty over fitness or form. We look at who will be playing in Paris and the injury issues that could potentially derail Grand Slam bids.
The 2024 French Open could be one of the most open Grand Slam tournaments in recent years.
All of the top three in the ATP rankings have question marks over their form or fitness, while there is also uncertainty around 14-time winner Rafael Nadal.
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is hoping to build some momentum by playing in Geneva the week before the tournament, as world No. 2 Jannik Sinner and world No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz face a race to be fit for Paris.
Ahead of the Grand Slam starting on May 26, live on discovery+, we run through which of the leading contenders look set to play, and assess their chances of victory…
This is where the most important chunk of the season starts for Djokovic.
The next three-and-a-half months include the French Open, Wimbledon, the Paris Olympics and the US Open. That’s three chances to overtake Margaret Court in the overall Grand Slam standings and an opportunity to win a first Olympic gold medal.
The problem for Djokovic is that ahead of such a crucial period he does not look in the best form.
He is yet to win a tournament this season and last time out was beaten in the third round at the Italian Open. Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick has said he is more “concerned” about Djokovic’s displays than at any time in the last 15 years.
Djokovic will be looking to get into the groove at the Geneva Open, where he could play Andy Murray in his opening match.
While playing the week before the French Open is usually avoided by most players, Djokovic did so in 2021 when he played the Belgrade Open, which he won before also triumphing in Paris.
Sinner has been the player of the season so far on the ATP Tour, winning the Australian Open, Rotterdam Open, and Miami Open.
At the French Open he has a chance to become the first Italian man to reach world No. 1 – even if he doesn’t play.
Sinner’s participation at the Grand Slam has been in doubt after he pulled out of the Italian Open with a hip issue.
He said at the time that he will only play the French Open if he is 100 per cent, otherwise he will “stop a little longer”.
It seems like Sinner will play the Grand Slam as he has posted photos of training sessions on clay along with his coaching team.
For Djokovic to stay as world No. 1 after the French Open he will need to at least reach the final. If he loses before the final then Sinner will become world No. 1, even if he does not play.
