French Open 2023 draw: How Daniil Medvedev’s ‘unbelievable’ triumph shifts seedings as Novak Djokovic slips

It seemed like a really large ‘if’. If Daniil Medvedev may win the Italian Open then he may get to world No. 2 and leapfrog Novak Djokovic within the rankings to turn into the second seed for the French Open.

Medvedev’s win signifies that he would be the No. 2 seed on the French Open behind world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

Roland-Garros

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How Medvedev shook up French Open draw

The leads to Rome solely added to the intrigue.

Whereas Alcaraz went out early and Djokovic misplaced within the quarters, Medvedev took out 4 seeds and dropped only one set to say the title.

With the rating factors lifting Medvedev to turn into the second seed for the French Open, he might be on the other half to Alcaraz when the draw is made on Thursday.

Djokovic, in the meantime, may very well be drawn on the identical half of the draw as Alcaraz, which might imply a possible semi-final assembly. Djokovic and Alcaraz haven’t met since their first conflict in Madrid final 12 months, which Alcaraz received in three units.

Final 12 months’s runner-up Casper Ruud is the fourth seed forward of Tsitsipas and new world No. 6 Rune.

Reflecting on what attending to No. 2 will imply for him in Paris, Medvedev stated: “If I’d be No. 3, I’d positively play one in all Alcaraz or Novak if I’m within the semi-finals. You positively have one in all them in your draw.

“I assume it is higher to be No. 2 and get the prospect. Carlos and I [will not] play for certain earlier than the ultimate, and Novak perhaps 50 per cent likelihood he isn’t in your draw.

“On the identical time, I have never been additional than the quarters in Roland-Garros.”

Medvedev didn’t win a match on his first 4 appearances on the French Open, earlier than making the quarter-finals in 2021 and the fourth spherical final 12 months.

However with a primary clay title in his pocket, how will he fare this time in Paris?

Medvedev: I don’t imagine it

Although his view on the floor appears extra optimistic today, he says that in the beginning of the Italian Open he would have given himself a 2% likelihood of profitable the title – “usually it could be zero however I used to be feeling so good that if you happen to requested perhaps it could have been 2%”.

However his performances in Rome, significantly within the semi-finals and remaining, must mark him out as a challenger on the French Open.

“I’m feeling nice,” he instructed the Tennis Channel. “It’s the very best week on clay in my life. It’s at all times nice to return right into a Grand Slam with a variety of confidence.

“However you at all times have sturdy opponents there, it’s out of 5 units. Have to be 100 per cent. That’s what I am gonna attempt to do.

“I nonetheless haven’t that large expectations in a approach, however I do know that I can do higher than I assumed so, in order that’s good.”

Medvedev, who was referred to as the “Emperor of Rome” on social media by Boris Becker, has now received 20 titles in 20 totally different cities.

Whereas that features a Grand Slam title on the 2021 US Open and Nitto ATP Finals triumph, Medvedev says this victory in Rome is up amongst his most interesting.

“In a approach, [this is my] No. 1 [success], simply because it is the primary one on clay and it is unbelievable. I’d by no means have thought I’d have the ability to make this.

“Then I’ve to be sincere, a Grand Slam is at all times larger. US Open is at all times No. 1 there. This one is particular as a result of I did not assume it was going to have the ability to occur, [that I was] going to have the ability to make it.

“I nonetheless sort of do not imagine…Not that I received it, however I performed so nicely this week. I do not imagine it. The best way I performed, I am actually pleased. Comfortable to have this trophy again dwelling in a while.”

Rune picks Djokovic as favorite

If Medvedev is among the many favourites for the French Open, so too is Rune.

He’s made three clay finals this season – Monte Carlo, Munich and Rome – and overwhelmed Djokovic and Ruud over the course of the final week.

Requested who he thinks is the favorite in Paris, Rune stated: “I nonetheless assume Novak is the principle favorite for the occasion.

“He is the one with probably the most Slams of who’s enjoying, probably the most skilled. Then we have now Alcaraz. We have now Medvedev. We have now a variety of guys.

“I believe if I’ve to choose one favorite, I am going to in all probability decide Novak.”

The French Open begins on Might 28.

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