This one could have promised it to you before the tournament begins. The final of Roland-Garros will oppose the Italian n ° 1 in the world Jannik Sinner to Spanish and title holder Carlos Alcaraz. The two best players in the world have swept everything away from their way to find themselves for the first time face to face in the final of a Grand Chelem.
As with girls with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, the world’s 1 and 2 numbers are at the rendezvous of a last weekend that promises to be beautiful. “Historically, it often happened to have the two best in the final,” recalls Guy Forget the former director of the tournament. Remember Borg-McENROE duels or the Nadal-Federer, Nadal-Djokovic. Finally, the rankings are well made. »»
In the half, Alcaraz took advantage of The abandonment of the other Italian terror Lorenzo Musetti (4-6, 7/6, 6-6, 2-0) to participate in its 5th final in Grand Chelem. He arrives there with a statistic which can worry his rival: he has lost none. “It will be a great Sunday for tennis fans, sells Spanish. Whenever I played against Novak or Jannik, they were very beautiful matches to watch, to play but also very hard. ”
Djokovic could not do anything
But it will not be against the Serbian in a remake of the Olympic final in the same place. Later in the evening, under the eyes of Dustin Hoffman and in a nice atmosphere, Novak Djokovic, however tenacious and sometimes fantastic from the top of his 24 Great Chelems and his three victories on this Earth (2016, 2021, 2023) fell. He could not do much against a compressor roll called Jannik Sinner.
The terrible Italian machine reminded him of their age difference, 15, winning Hammer-Pilon 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) in 3:18 ′ of play. “I had to show my best tennis to beat Novak. I know that against Carlos, it will be difficult but the statistics in his favor when one clashes are only figures “commented Sinner at the exit of the duel.
Green jersey, shorts and blue caps, the Italian with an English -speaking name arrives in the final without having lost the slightest set during the fortnight. He scattered everyone by disgusting the competition, even that coming from the one who holds the most beautiful list of history.
Winner of the US Open 2024 and in Australia at the start of the year, he could in the event of a final victory move towards the Grand Slam Calendar. “Jannik plays a fantastic tennis,” says Michael Chang the winner of the 1989 edition. Being there in the final as he went to Rome a few weeks ago without having played for three months (due to suspension and doping), it’s incredible “.
“Who is better than the other right now?” I cannot answer “
The final in Rome, on clay, on May 7, had opposed it to a certain Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner lost it (7-6, 6-1). The two men will compete for the 12th time and the Iberian leads 7-4.
It remains to be seen now who is the favorite of this perfect final? “I think the winner will be the one who will best strike his blow must. On this surface, with the way the balls react a little higher, for me it’s Carlos. It has a slight advantage ”takes up Michael Chang.
Mats Wilander, triple winner in Paris in 1982, 1985 and 1988, dares not come forward. “Who is better than the other right now?” I cannot answer. They are numbers 1 and 2, the best players in the world. They are stronger than all the others. But now, who is stronger than the other? I can’t say it, it’s impossible ”.
The question is unanswered until Sunday.
