Clay Court Season: Part 2 of 4 of 2023
Most normal people measure their years using normal units of time. 52 weeks, 365 days, 12 months. The tennis world sees things differently. The first part of the year runs from January to March, starting in Australia and ending with the Miami Masters. This part of the season is predominantly played on hard courts, with a sprinkle of South American clay mixed in. We have now entered part two, the European Clay Swing. Starting in the picturesque Monte Carlo and culminating in the second Grand Slam of the year, Roland Garros.
This change of surface is often accompanied by a power shift. In recent times, Novak Djokovic has tended to dominate the early part of the year, followed by a fairly predictable Roland Garros title for Rafa Nadal. But will things change this year? Let’s take a look.
Casper Ruud
Ruud had a terrific 2022, reaching 2 Grand Slam finals, as well as adding to 3 titles to his ever-increasing list of honours. He even reached World Number Two, and was one match away from becoming World Number One, a feat he would have achieved had he beaten Alcaraz at the US Open final. Ruud is undoubtedly at his best on a clay court, but has endured a difficult start to the year, performing poorly in the aforementioned ‘phase one’. However, Ruud comes into Monte Carlo in good form, having just won another title in Estoril last week. Perhaps we will see the best of Ruud on the red dirt and I believe he will win a lot of matches. Unfortunately, I can’t see him winning Roland Garros.
Carlos Alcaraz
‘Carlitos’ Alcaraz has continued to dazzle at the start of 2023. Although he has lost his World Number One spot to Novak Djokovic, this can largely be blamed on injury issues, which prevented Alcaraz from playing in Australia and hampered him in the finals in Rio and Miami. Alcaraz has an 18-2 record in 2023 (90% win percentage) and has won 2 titles, in Indian Wells and Buenos Aires. His only losses have come to Norrie and Medvedev, both in finals. Alcaraz sparkled on the clay last year, beating Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Alexander Zverev to win the title in Madrid. If he can stay fit, he is a serious contender for Roland Garros. However, Alcaraz is still currently injured, and it remains to be seen how much tennis he will play before then.
Rafael Nadal
Nadal comes into this clay court season with quite literally nothing to prove. Having already won the French Open 14 times, he will go down as the best player on clay in history. Nadal, like his compatriot Alcaraz, also comes into this part of the season injured. This has never stopped Nadal in the past, who had to take injections in his foot to participate at Roland Garros last year. Regardless of the form of his rivals, Nadal is simply unbeatable when at his best on clay. Injuries permitting, Nadal is the hot favourite for every single tournament until June.
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic would certainly have won Roland Garros many many times if it wasn’t for Nadal. Somehow, the Serb has only ever won the tournament twice. He comes on the back of winning the Australian Open and a clean bill of health. Djokovic has not played since losing to Medvedev in Dubai, his only defeat this year. He is unplayable at times on a hard court, but can certainly be beaten on clay.