Tennis: French Open 2023

[K]

sb Men's winner

Alcaraz 2.30
Djokovic 3.40
Nadal 5.00
Tsitsipas 10.00
Rune 12.00
Sinner 14.00
Ruud 18.00
Zverev, Rublev 26.00
Medvedev 34.00
Thiem 41.00

[K]

Injured Nadal withdrew from his lead-up tournament.

Woodbridge reckons he won't make it to defend his title.

[Jezza]

Would be a shame if Nadal withdrew.

Alcaraz-Djokovic final would be pretty epic. They've only played one another once, which was at the Madrid Open last year which Alcaraz won in 3 tight sets.

[K]

Rafael Nadal May Miss the French Open

April 20, 2023

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/20/sports/tennis/nadal-injury-french-open.html

"Nadal, 36, of Spain, announced that the injury to the psoas muscle in his lower abdomen and upper right leg that he sustained at the Australian Open in January had not healed as he and his doctors and trainers had expected. In his statement that he would miss his third clay-court tournament — the Madrid Open, which begins next week — Nadal said he did not have a timetable for when he might be able to play competitive tennis again.
...

He pulled out of tournaments in Monte Carlo and Barcelona, and on Thursday announced that he would not be able to play next week in Madrid. That leaves the Italian Open in Rome, which begins May 8, as the only major tuneup available ahead of the French Open. But that tournament also now seems in doubt.
...

Nadal’s current struggles are the latest in an 18-month battle with injuries that have plagued the twilight of his career. Initially he was able to overcome them and play some of his most startling tennis.

He returned from a flare-up of his chronic foot injury in late 2021 to win the Australian Open last year, then recovered from a cracked rib in time to win his 14th French Open.

At Wimbledon, though, an abdominal muscle tear forced him to default his semifinal match against Nick Kyrgios and to miss much of the summer. He returned for the U.S. Open, but was far from 100 percent and lost to Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round. Then came the tear to the psoas muscle in Australia."

[K]

Confirmed: Rafa out.

He also indicated 2024 may be his final year.

[Jezza]

No Nadal at RG since 2004.

2024 looks like the end as he indicated.

[K]

Also out:

Murray (saving himself for Wimbledon)
Kyrgios (knee surgery).

The Kyrgios injury reportedly happened when his car was stolen! Huh?? Did he try to defend his car? Was it a carjacking?!

[K]

In R2: Kokkinakis v. Wawrinka.

And Stan has been accused of being fat!

[Jezza]

Kokkinakis defeated Wawrinka in 5, but lost to Khachanov in the 3rd round.

[K]

Khachanov will play Djokovic in one QF.

Alcaraz and Djokovic could meet in one SF.

[K]

Djokovic beat Khachanov 46 76(0) 62 64.
Alcaraz beat Tsitsipas 62 61 76(5).

Bring on the SF!!

[K]

And it'll be Ruud vs Zverev in the other SF.

Odds:
Alcaraz 1.48
Djoker 2.60

I'm a bit ... Sure, makes sense Alcaraz is favourite, but that's quite short!

[Jezza]

Currently watching Alcaraz vs Djokovic.

Djokovic is up a break in the first set.

[Jezza]

Djokovic won the first set 6-3.

In the second set, it's 2-2 with Alcaraz on serve.

[Jezza]

Men's Final.

Djokovic vs. Ruud.