ALEX CORRETJA PREVIEWS 2021 ROLAND-GARROS

What are you most looking forward to about this year’s Roland-Garros?
In general, I want to see fight. The period we are living in is bad, it’s horrible, it’s very sad. I hope that the players bring us some huge energy – to play best-of-five on clay in the men’s and best-of-three for the women – it has to bring energy to people and to show they are capable of showing what they can do in a very difficult period of our lives. I want to see that they give 100% and show that they are happy to be playing in front of fans again and they are grateful to be there. But I want to see fight, I don’t want to see complaints – I’m not talking about throwing racquets or shouting when you miss a shot, I don’t care about that – I don’t want bad attitudes and people who are not grateful to have the chance to play at Roland-Garros at this time of our lives because it’s just amazing that the tournament has been organised right now.

What players are you looking forward to watching from the men’s and women’s draw?
I would like to see which of the young guys are capable to get through and start hurting the older guys. Players like Casper Ruud, Felix Augur-Aliassime, Jannik Sinner or even Sonego – these guys to see which ones are getting closer to the older guys. I also want to see how Tsitsipas and Zverev can create problems to Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Dominic Thiem because they are the ones to beat. On the women’s side, I’d like to see how Iga Swiatek handles the whole thing of being defending champion and I’m really looking forward to seeing if Muguruza can do well. I think, for Spanish tennis, it will be huge if she does well. I don’t know if Sabalenka thinks she is solid enough to do well on clay for two weeks, especially at Roland-Garros where the conditions are very changeable.

What do you think of the new generation and which players are most likely to win a Grand Slam?
All of the players I mentioned are capable, because it is going to be so open. In three years’ time or so, we will know how they cope with getting to the last rounds and how well they deal with all the emotions. I think we are going to have completely different Grand Slam champions on different surfaces. I am not sure it is going to be as open as the women’s right now, but I think it will be pretty similar as I don’t think anyone will be as consistent as Novak, Rafa and Roger have been. This will open the door a little to many other players.

Can anyone stand toe-to-toe with Rafa Nadal this year?
Yes, there are guys out there who can. There is Novak of course, there is Thiem, there is Tsitsipas, there is Zverev, there is Schwartzman – all whom can play well. Of course we see others like Berrettini, Casper Ruud, these guys can stay with Rafa but I’m just not sure they can over five sets. If Thiem is well, then he is probably the one that Rafa can suffer the most against on clay because of the styles of games. He has got a good forehand, a good backhand, a good serve – he doesn’t need to go so far back to hit his backhand. But I still feel it is in Rafa’s hands more than anybody else.

Is it a blow for the tournament that Simona Halep is unable to play?
Yes, it is, because she would have been one of the favourites, of course. She has won there, she has played finals there, and she has always played well there over the past few years. When you think about someone winning the women’s tournament, you always think of Simona. You put her maybe first, second or third – but she was always top three. It is a big shock she is not playing and it will be big news for her opponents because they know that one of the most dangerous players on clay is not playing and she is one of the toughest competitors on tour. Simona on clay is one of the toughest opponents to face.

Do you think the new night sessions will change the dynamic of the tournament?
I think it will a little bit. It can create problems for players a little bit if matches go long into the night because matches will finish late, conditions will be totally different – it is the same in different Slams we know – but here especially the clay will be so wet. I am super-fine with night sessions, I’m just not a super-fan of 9pm night sessions on clay at Roland-Garros in June. In my opinion, it’s too late. 

Alex Corretja is a tennis expert for Eurosport. Watch every match from Roland-Garros on Eurosport and Eurosport App from Sunday 30 May 2021.