Rafael Nadal is currently ranked as the fourth most likely to win the French Open this year, according to bookmakers. Carlos Alcaraz, Nadal’s compatriot, is leading the list as the favorite, followed by Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner. Nadal has previously won a record 14 French Open titles.
Nadal last won Roland Garros in 2022, and he was unable to participate in the clay court Major last year due to a hip injury sustained at the 2023 Australian Open. Tennis journalist Simon Cambers recently commented on the odds, noting that although bookies can be cautious, Nadal being ranked as the fourth favorite is still surprising.
Of the top four early favorites, only Djokovic has won the French Open previously, in 2016, 2021, and 2023. Alcaraz, who won the 2022 US Open and the 2023 Wimbledon, reached the semifinals at the French Open last year. Sinner, the 2024 Australian Open champion, made it to the quarterfinals of the 2020 French Open.
Nadal is currently competing in the Madrid Open, where he has had an impressive start. The former ATP World No. 1 defeated 16-year-old American Darwin Blanch in the first round, and then faced a tougher challenge against tenth seed Alex de Minaur in the second round. Despite de Minaur recently ending Nadal’s run at the Barcelona Open, Nadal emerged as the winner in Madrid.
