On the women’s draw at the moment
What player do you consider the strongest on the WTA Tour at the moment?
Ash Barty has looked very good, she won a few tournaments. Sabalenka before has won tournaments and has surprised me, she has to be one of the favourites with her results and the fact that now she is harnessing her power now and being more consistent which is great. Ash Barty is special to me, I think she can just do it all – she has power, she has finesse, she can come to the net, she has got good weapons but has got good defence as well. Ash, Iga and Sabalenka – those are my top three.

What do you think Naomi Osaka needs to do to go an extra stage further on clay as she seems to struggle on that surface?
I go back to when Maria Sharapova first played on clay, she felt like a cow on ice – those were her words! And then she ended up winning two French Opens, she wasn’t the fastest player, she didn’t slide that well, but she taught herself and just kept at it and at it. With Naomi it is not going to happen overnight, she might need a few years to get on the red clay and the green clay to learn a natural slide, to learn how to be a little more patient before she pulls the trigger. She is an attacking player but the balls are coming back because the surfaces are a little slower, so it’s been a challenge for her. I don’t think she is going to win the French Open this year, but I think if she stays with it and really wants to learn how to play on clay a few years down the road then it’s another story. I was watching another hopeful Bianca Andreescu, but it’s the same thing – you really have to play eight to 10 balls in some rallies instead of making a winner on the fourth shot. You have to have the patience for that and the endurance. Psychologically, it’s a whole different game to that on a hard court or a grass court.

Three women who you would look out for at Roland-Garros?
Barty, Swiatek and Sabalenka. Serena Williams, if she gets into the second week, will be dangerous and I also think Coco Gauff is playing very well so those are my other two.

On Iga Swiatek
Has Iga Swiatek become an expert on playing on clay, or is it too early to start saying this?
She has won the French Open, she has won one Grand Slam on clay and she certainly is getting better and better. I think she is still not 100% there, I think she is still learning the tricks and learning the finesse, learning about the sliding. I still think she is in the learning position. First of all, Iga hasn’t had enough experience to be considered unbeatable or a true clay court player but she is getting better and better with every tournament that goes on. She is a quick learner and one of the top three players – I pick Barty, Iga and Sabalenka – those three have done the best on clay this season. Iga has got a great shot at winning her second French Open.

How well do you know Iga? And did you start following her during last year’s Roland-Garros?
I’ve never met Iga. I think I did a match of hers at the US Open – she lost, but it was a close match and I thought then that she is definitely one to watch. I was in a trance watching her at the French Open, beating everyone in her path from Simona Halep onwards – and I was like who is this young lady and where did she come from? How did she get so good so fast? And since then I have followed her. She had a slow start this year but she seems to be peaking at the right time for the French Open.

What in your opinion is her greatest strength?
Her hunger and desire.

Do you think Iga has the capability to go back-to-back at Roland-Garros?
Yes, I do – most certainly. If results prove themselves then yes, she has done well these past few tournaments. Again, she is gaining confidence more and more. I think she probably felt pressure after the French Open in a few matches and lost her way a bit but now she has gotten that confidence back. Right after she won it last year she said I’m not satisfied with one Grand Slam, I want to keep on winning many more – not many champions say that, not many people who win Grand Slams say that. That’s what impressed me.

It seems like Iga can win even when she is not playing at her very best?
She never gets down on herself, that’s such a great trait to have, it’s a championship trait. She never panics when she is losing, she always believes in herself when she is behind – that’s an intangible quality to have, the mental side of the game that is so under-rated but it can pull you through matches.

What was your take on Iga’s resounding win over Karolina Pliskova recently?
It was surprising for Karolina because up until that point she had looked pretty strong and seemed like she was pretty comfortable on clay. But her serve was off, she was a little slow and Iga played one of the best matches of her life, and if continues with that form and brings that to the French Open then she could win the title.

On the men's tournament and Big Three
Which male player will end up with the most Grand Slams from the big three male players?
Novak is at 18 right now, for sure he can end with the most. He is great on all three surfaces, is a few years younger, I think it’s a matter of staying healthy – after years and years of wear-and-tear on their body – if he can play another three or four years he’s definitely going to win another four or five Grand Slams in my mind.

Do you think Rafa Nadal will continue his love affair with Roland-Garros in 2021 and win his 14th title?
He has a very good chance. He’s more vulnerable in a three set match, but in five sets it’s difficult because he not only has the endurance but he has the mentality he can stay in each point for each three or four hours, even five hours. He is my favourite, Djokovic second, and then the field.

Do you think Roger Federer can win another Grand Slam or will it be tricky for him now?
It’ll be tricky for Roger, I think his best shot is Wimbledon where the rallies are shorter, you can get into the net, he’s got a nice chip, a nice slice – that’s his best bet. Again, he hasn’t played – that’s what worries me – I said the same about Serena, you lose that instinct, you lose that anticipation, you lose a little of confidence in yourself, you need matches to get match-tough and play your best. Hopefully between now and Wimbledon if he can play three tournaments maybe he can that experience and become match-tough.

On the Next Generation of male players
Who from the next Generation of players can make the breakthrough at Roland-Garros or even future Grand Slams?
Stefanos Tsitsipas has been very impressive with not only his tennis but his mental strength, his mental calmness. Tsitsipas looks really good. I’ve been very impressed with Sascha Zverev – when he’s serving well, he’s still really dangerous on any surface – it’s just a matter of getting that serve going for him. Dominic Thiem has reached the final of the French Open, after having a break hopefully he has re-charged his batteries. Andrey Rublev also looks good, he’s had some good wins. The top three I’ve just mentioned are the top prospects though because they’ve had wins over Nadal and Djokovic. It is getting closer and closer but the top two are still Nadal and Djokovic.

Do you think any of these players you mentioned are capable of winning Grand Slams in the future?
It’s not a closed door that only the big three can win Grand Slams, for sure. Other players have beaten them. I think Tsitsipas has come a long way this year, he has impressed me the most of all the next generation of players. He has impressed me not only with his game, but also with the aura he has around him. The mental strength he is showing, the calmness he is showing during the big points. I love his progression in his tennis. Again, if Zverev can just keep that first serve going, he moves well for a big guy, he has got weapons, he has impressed me a lot. And Thiem is the most consistent, solid guy.

On the crowds
There will be crowds at Roland-Garros this year, will this help the players?
It can only be a good thing. The players play off the energy of the crowd and when there is a buzz or feeling excitement in the crowd, that translates over to the players and they are more motivated. It’s been hard for some players to play in an empty stadium because a lot of them are so used to a lot of fans. The top players are going to be really happy to have the buzz back and it’s great for tennis, it’s great for everybody.

Personal memories
What’s your best memory from Roland-Garros, as a player and as a spectator?
My best memory of Roland-Garros was 1985 when I beat Martina Navratilova in three sets because everyone kept counting me out during my play. Martina was dominant and people were saying I would never win another Grand Slam. I think beating her – one of the greatest champions ever – propelled me to playing three more years after that. I was very emotional and I’ll always remember it. That was my favourite win of all my 18 Grand Slams.

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