The Race for the Roland Garros title intensifies as fans anxiously wait to buy their Roland Garros tickets. The news is official now: Rafael Nadal will play in the French Open in 2024.
The journey of Rafael Nadal, from injury to recovery, has been a testament to his resilience and determination. It’s a story that has captivated the tennis world, as they eagerly awaited the return of the King of Clay. And now, in 2024, all doubts are dispelled as the Spanish legend’s name shines brightly on the official entry list.
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) announced on Tuesday that Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek—the current top-ranked male and female tennis players—headline the entry lists for Roland Garros 2024.
This year’s French Open will be held at Roland Garros in Paris from May 20 (including qualifying rounds) to June 9.
Notably, 14-time Rafael Nadal returns after missing last year’s edition due to a hip injury. The Spaniards used Protected Ranking. Marin Cilic, Denis Shapovalov, Kei Nishikori, and Kwon Soonwoo have also used PRs.
The lefty owns a historic 112-3 record at the tournament. Nadal triumphed on his last appearance in 2022. The 37-year-old returned to action this week in Barcelona, where he advanced to the second round. Nadal had last competed in Brisbane in January.
For India, Sumit Nagal has made it to the main draw courtesy of his world ranking of 80. The last Indian man to feature in the main draw was Prajnesh Gunneswaran in 2019.
Eight players—Angelique Kerber, Naomi Osaka, Irina-Camelia Begu, Amanda Anisimova, Bianca Andreescu, Julia Grabher, Alison van Uytvanck, and Aleksandra Krunic—have used PRs in women’s singles.
However, Karolina Muchova, last year’s runner-up, is missing from the list. She will miss this year’s edition due to a wrist injury.
The main draw cutoff for men’s and women’s singles at French Open 2024 is 99.
Rybakina Strikes in Stuttgrart
Form is a critical factor that derives success in the Roland Garros and how they go into the tournament. Elenea Ryabakina, currently World #4, is doing just that.
World No.4 Rybakina is clicking into top gear at the right time. The Kazakh captured her eighth title, third this season, with an emphatic 6-2, 6-2 scoreboard over Marta Kostyuk in Stuttgart.
Kostyuk was mesmerising in Germany, downing US Open champion Coco Gauff and Wimbledon winner Marketa Vondrousova to reach the final. However, Rybakina was utterly ruthless from start to finish.
Back in the semi-finals, Rybakina also played head-turning tennis to defeat reigning champion Iga Swiatek 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 and end the Pole’s 10-match winning streak at the event.
In doing so, Rybakina is the first WTA player to reach five finals in the season’s first four months since Victoria Azarenka in 2012.
The commanding tennis, the numbers, the composure—it all looks very enticing for Rybakina in Paris next month.
“I always believe in myself, of course, but it’s not only depends on me,” said Rybakina, having posted a Tour-leading 26th victory of the season.
“There are a lot of great players, tough opponents. But I know I’m playing my game if I feel fresh, ready, and healthy. Of course, I have all the chances to win a Grand Slam on any surface,” he added.
Over to Rouen, France, and American Sloane Stephens, she lifted her first title on clay in eight years with a 6-1, 2-6, 6-2 triumph over Magda Linette.
Ruud gains BCN revenge
While Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Nadal are considered favourites to secure their Roland Garros final tickets, Casper Ruud cannot be taken lightly.
World No.7 Stefanos Tsitsipas swept Ruud aside earlier before winning the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. Fast forward a week, Casper responded in style with a 7-5, 6-3 scoreline in the Barcelona Open final.
“Just to kind of bring it to him a little bit more than last week,” said Ruud after halting Tsitsipas’ 10-match winning run.
“In the final in Monte-Carlo, I was always on the back foot, too far behind, and he had too much time to control the game.”
All of Ruud’s previous ten titles had been claimed at the ATP 250 level, and the 25-year-old’s blistering week in Barcelona made up for 11 other final losses, including Roland-Garros 2022 and 2023.
It was a milestone moment for the Norwegian.
This time, he is confident that he will give all the fans with Roland Garros final tickets a show for their money.
Honestly, this has been worth the wait,” said Ruud, amassing a Tour-leading 29 match victories in 2024.
“A lot of finals I’ve lost have been tough, a bit disappointing. Any time you reach a final, it’s a good week, so you can’t be too hard on yourself, but this one has been a long time coming.
“I’m super happy to do it here in Barcelona in front of a packed stadium and on Rafa Nadal Court. It’s special to me because I have looked up to him all my childhood. I came here myself as a 13-year-old boy to watch him and the others play here. It’s a great feeling.”
Emma Raducanu is not on Roland Garros List
Emma Raducanu is facing an uncomfortable wait to find out if she will be able to play in next month’s French Open.
The 2021 US Open champion has seen her ranking slide outside the top 300 of the WTA Tour after she missed much of the last 12 months due to injury.
Raducanu underwent double wrist and ankle surgery last May, forcing her to miss the rest of the 2023 season.
Her absence from the game saw Raducanu’s ranking dive, but she can use a protected ranking of No 103, which was the ranking she was at when she stepped away from the game.
Unfortunately for Raducanu, that ranking is insufficient to get her into Grand Slam events. That was confirmed when she missed out on direct entry into the Australian Open in January.
She was preparing to play in qualifying in Melbourne but sneaked into the main draw after several players pulled out with injuries.
Raducanu will now hope for something similar in the second Grand Slam of the year after French Open chiefs confirmed she has not cut direct entry into their women’s singles draw.
The English fans would’ve loved to get Roland Garros final tickets with Raducanu in the finals, but they will also need to wait.
Eight players have chosen to use their protected ranking after being out of action due to injury or pregnancy.