If you care about the future of men’s tennis, and in particular the state of the current race to Roland Garros, this is a match-up you’ve been waiting to see. We know how well Alcaraz can do against one perennial French Open contender, Rafael Nadal; after two losses, the 19-year-old recorded his first win over Rafa on Friday. Now we’ll finally get a chance to see how Alcaraz fares against Djokovic.
This is the first meeting between the Serb and the Spaniard, and it comes at an interesting moment. Alcaraz, who is 25-3 on the year, is in the midst of a more-than-meteoric rise into the Top 10. Djokovic, just 7-3 so far this season, is still trying to round himself into Grand Slam form after missing most of the season so far. After titles in Miami and Barcelona, and a three-set win over Nadal, Alcaraz couldn’t be flying much higher or playing with more confidence. Getting that first win over Rafa may help him relax in this one, too.
It’s Djokovic who will need to raise his game from where it has been recently if he wants to stay with the teenager. If anyone can do it, it’s him. Winner: Alcaraz
Alexander Zverev vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas
Less than a month ago, after early exits in Indian Wells and Miami, these two seemed to be in danger of dropping into the second tier of future Grand Slam contenders. All they needed, it seems now, was some cracked earth under their feet. Tsitsipas defended his title in Monte Carlo, and won a close contest with Andrey Rublev on Friday. Zverev reached the semifinals in Monte Carlo and, after a first-round loss in Munich, is back in the semis in Madrid.
There are reasons to choose either man. Zverev is ranked two spots higher than Tsitsipas at No. 3, and has won this tournament twice; he likes the dirt in Madrid, where his flat backhand really takes off through the court. But Tsitsipas is 7-3 against Zverev lifetime, and 3-0 on clay. He won their meeting last month in Monte Carlo in two convincing sets.
This one should be closer. And after Zverev’s accusations about the Tsitsipas family’s illegal coaching in the Cincinnati bathroom last summer, it might also be spicier. Winner: Zverev