Iga Swiatek looking imperious ahead of French Open; Rafael Nadal declines wildcard

ROME – Iga Swiatek cruised into the last 16 of the Italian Open on Sunday after thrashing Lesia Tsurenko 6-2, 6-0, while Daniil Medvedev beat Emil Ruusuvuori 6-4, 6-2.

The losing finalist in Madrid last weekend, Swiatek looked again in imperious form in the tournament she won in 2022 before going on to blitz the French Open.

The 21-year-old is trying for her third straight Rome title and made light work of Tsurenko after a slightly bumpy start.

“I’m just trying to be consistent and trying to play my game. I treat every match as a final, I try to have the right mindset,” she said on court.

The Pole lost the first two games, but then rattled off 12 in a row in a powerful demonstration of why she is world No. 1 and favourite for Roland Garros.

On the men’s side, Carlos Alcaraz said being the top seed at the French Open was “crazy”, something he would not have believed years ago, but the Spaniard will not dwell too much on his position heading into the year’s second Grand Slam.

Alcaraz, who turned 20 on May 3, captured the US Open title in September to become the youngest man to top the world rankings. He will leapfrog Novak Djokovic into the No. 1 spot again after the ongoing Italian Open.

He is also assured of top billing at the May 28-June 11 French Open.

“It’s great to be the No. 1 seed at Roland Garros, in a Grand Slam, it’s something crazy. I wouldn’t have believed it years ago, but yes, I’m very happy,” he said after his 6-4, 6-1 victory over compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas in Rome on Saturday.

“It doesn’t change too much to be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed – I just focus on the tournament, on my game, on every match, and that’s something that I try not to think about. But of course, it’s something great.”

Alcaraz overcame an injury-hit start to 2023 and has already claimed four titles, including clay-court crowns in Buenos Aires, Barcelona and Madrid, to emerge as one of the top contenders for the trophy in Paris.

“I grew up a lot in a year. I have more experience. I have played great matches. I grew up thanks to that a lot. I’m more mature as well,” he said of his meteoric rise.

“I would say in just a year, I’m a totally different player. I read the match better than last year. I would say this year is totally different for me.”

Also progressing to the next round is Djokovic, after the Serb defeated Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, Rafael Nadal has turned down a wildcard offer for this week’s Challenger tournament in Bordeaux as the Spaniard’s participation in the French Open hangs in the balance, the clay-court event’s director said on Sunday.

The 36-year-old has been struggling with a hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open in January, and fears that the 22-time joint-record Major winner may miss the Paris Grand Slam grew after he pulled out of the Italian Open.

“I offered him (Nadal’s agent Carlos Costa) one of the wild cards. He very kindly told me that Nadal was continuing his preparation at home in Manacor, that he was not ready and was in a race against time to be ready for the French Open,” Jean-Baptiste Perlant told French sports daily L’Equipe.

He skipped last week’s Madrid Open and missed tournaments at Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo and Barcelona. REUTERS, AFP