\n<\/p>\n
At this stage it is difficult to see anybody beating Sinner at Roland Garros.<\/p>\n
Sinner has only lost to one man other than Alcaraz at the majors since Wimbledon in 2024 – that was Djokovic in this year’s Australian Open semi-finals.<\/p>\n
The 24-time major champion rolled back the years, showing how he still has the nous and heart to beat anybody. <\/p>\n
But, having turned 39 on Saturday, does he still have the physical capability to go all the way on clay? <\/p>\n
The fact that Djokovic remains the most plausible challenger to Sinner is a damning indictment on the rest of the men’s tour.<\/p>\n
Many of the players expected to challenge Sinner are floundering, with a glance at the leading French Open seeds offering little suggestion that he can be defeated.<\/p>\n
German second seed Alexander Zverev generally looks beaten by Sinner before he steps onto the court, as demonstrated by a limp 6-1 6-2 defeat in a Madrid final which proved to be a non-contest.<\/p>\n
Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime has fallen well short of his best this year, while American seventh seed Taylor Fritz missed most of the clay events leading in because of knee tendonitis.<\/p>\n
Ben Shelton won the ATP 500 event in Munich but the American fifth seed then lost to qualifiers in his opening matches in Madrid and Rome.<\/p>\n
Sixth seed Medvedev coming in with perhaps the most positivity is ironic, seeing as he has never been shy to show his disdain for the clay – and started the European swing with a 6-0 6-0 defeat in Monte Carlo.<\/a><\/p>\n “I always say sports is sports. So [Sinner] can lose,” said Medvedev, who famously pronounced the red dirt is “for dogs”.<\/p>\n “Every round someone is going to be on the other side of the court trying his best to beat him.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n