A match against Nadal and Federer at the same time? Alcaraz faces a Canadian test today

Carlos Alcaraz has been going through the tournament with great ease so far and is proving his highest ambitions. Anything less than a triumph would be a disappointment for “Carlito” at Roland Garros. However, as he moves on at Roland Garros, he will inevitably face increasingly difficult opponents. Tennis expert Mats Wilander reveals what could be a tough match for the Spaniard today.

Alcaraz made a successful start this week at the second Grand Slam of the season, where he is one of the biggest favourites. In his first two matches, he lost a single set, against Japan’s Daniel. He defeated the player from the beginning of the second ATP ranking 6::1, 3::6, 6::1, 6::2.

A round earlier, he hadn’t even been on court for two hours. The 20-year-old Spaniard beat Italian Cobolli 6: 0, 6: 2, 7: 5 in his debut at this year’s French Open. This opponent is also ranked in the top 100. But Alcaraz’s form is also excellent in the longer term. Of the fifteen clay matches he has played since the beginning of April, he has walked off the court as a winner fourteen times.

Tonight’s duel against the combination of Nadal and Federer

The third round will bring a tougher test. Canadian tennis player Denis Shapovalov will face “Carlito”. The native of Tel Aviv, where he was born 24 years ago to parents of Russian origin, is still waiting for a more significant result at Roland Garros. He actually surpassed his best this week by advancing to the third round.

But the former world number ten cannot be underestimated. The Canadian has already played the semifinals of Wimbledon and the quarterfinals of the US Open. He also reached the same milestone last year at the Australian Open.

Eurosport tennis expert Mats Wilander, himself a three-time Paris Major winner, compared Shapovalov to two tennis icons a few years ago. Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

Several factors once led him to make this comparison. Shapovalov’s technique, his serve and last but not least, there is another connection with the king of clay. Also, Kannan plays with his left hand.

If there is any threat to Alcaraz at this year’s French Open, it is a player who is not afraid to take risks and is able to play fast. That’s what his opponent today should be able to do.

“Denis is definitely a player nobody wants to play against. No one. It doesn’t matter who you are or what surface you are playing on. You don’t want to play against him because you never know what will happen,” Wilander told Eurosport.

The truth is that the Canadian tennis player is not yet fulfilling the potential he has. The same cannot be said for the favourite of today’s match. Alcaraz is thus expected to win today, but the highlight of today’s Paris programme can bring anything. What exactly that will be will be revealed tonight on Philippe Chatrier’s court.

Source: Roland Garros, Eurosport