Tsitsipas Favorite in Bottom Half of RG Draw

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, Could 19, 2022

Stefanos Tsitsipas made historical past together with his run to the Roland Garros last final June.

Alexander Zverev tabs Tsitsipas because the bottom-half favourite to return to the French Open last.

More: Djokovic, Nadal, Alcaraz All Reside in Top Half of Draw

Whereas world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, 13-time champion Rafael Nadal, 19-year-old Madrid champion Carlos Alcaraz and the third-seeded Zverv, who fell to Alcaraz within the Madrid last, will all struggle it out within the prime half of the draw, alternative arises from the underside half.

A yr in the past, Tsitsipas knocked off Daniil Medvedev and Zverev in succession making historical past as the primary Greek to achieve a Grand Slam singles last.

The fourth-seeded Tsitsipas has a troublesome opener in opposition to gifted Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who pushed Djokovic to 5 units within the 2021 Roland Garros fourth spherical.

Nonetheless, Zverev cites two-time Monte-Carlo champion Tsitsipas as the highest favourite from the underside half.

“I believe the way in which Stefanos has been enjoying this clay court docket season he has an excellent probability of constructing it to the finals,” Zverev informed the media in Paris as we speak. “I believe there isn’t a query about it. He is most likely been one of the best participant on clay from that backside half that we have now.”

World No. 2 Medvedev, who fell to Richard Gasquet this week in his first match since recovering from hernia surgical procedure, faces 98th-ranked Facundo Bagnis in his opener.

Miami finalist Casper Ruud, who performs Jo-Wilfried Tsonga within the Frenchman’s farewell match, No. 7-seeded Andrey Rublev, Eleventh-seeded Italian Jannik Sinner and Sixteenth-seeded Pablo Carreno Busta are all threats within the backside half, however Zverev asserts Tsitsipas stays the favourite to make a last return.

“I believe Andrey has an excellent probability going deep this match, as nicely,” Zverev stated. “Daniil is No. 2 on the earth. I believe he wants a while to return from his harm and to regulate to the clay courts, as nicely. Ruud has been enjoying very nicely on clay.

“For me, yeah, from the underside half, Stefanos is the favourite, and I believe every other participant would say the identical factor, simply just by the outcomes as nicely.”

Picture credit score: Getty