Sports
Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Others Part of Winners and Losers List of French Open 2021 Draw
The French Open 2021 is just three days away and its excitement got almost doubled up after the announcement of its draw. Interestingly, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal are all there in one half of the draw. This not only makes the first part of the draw more difficult, but also comforts the next-gen players like Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev, and Dominic Thiem.
On the WTA’s side too, while Naomi Osaka and Iga Swiatek have got a comparatively easier draw, Serena Williams and Ashleigh Barty will have to fight really hard to lift the French Open 2021 title this year. Let’s have a look at the winners and losers of the Roland Garros 2021 draw-
WINNERS
Dominic Thiem
After having quite a poor season so far, the draw of the French Open 2021 is surely in Thiem’s favor. The Austrian doesn’t have to play any ‘Big Three’ player until the finals and it can be a big advantage for the World No.4 player.
Apart from this, Thiem will only require to play only one of the ‘Big Three’ players this year. He will draw against Daniil Medvedev in the semis but the ‘Prince of Clay’ can surely beat him as Medvedev hasn’t been that good on clay in the recent past.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
After winning the Monte Carlo Masters 2021 and ending as the runner-up of the Barcelona Open 2021, Tsitsipas is surely one of the favorites in pairs this year. He can easily reach the finals of the Grand Slam if he manages to beat Thiem in the semis after battling past Medvedev in the quarters.
Interestingly, he too will not face any of the ‘Big Three’ till the finals and has the golden opportunity to reach his maiden Grand Slam finals this year.
Alexander Zverev
The winner of the Mutua Madrid Open 2021, Zverev is also a strong contender for the French Open 2021 title. The German defeated Nadal in straight sets at the Madrid Open and impressed his fans there.
Just like Thiem and Tsitsipas, he too will only have to face just one of the ‘Big Three’ and that too, in the finals. He will likely face Thiem in the quarters and Medvedev or Tsitsipas in the semi-finals.
Iga Swiatek
Defending champion Swiatek is also a big winner after the draw. Till the third round, she has quite an easy draw where she won’t face much trouble. Even though she’ll face Muguruza in the pre-quarters, her potential quarter-final opponent will be Elise Mertens.
Although she’ll most probably draw against Ashleigh Barty in the semis, her opponent in the finals will either be Osaka or Sabalenka. Overall, Swiatek will be happy with her draw.
Naomi Osaka
Going through a pretty rough phase, Osaka will be cheerful after knowing her French Open 2021 draw. Interestingly, she’ll not have to face either Barty or Swiatek till the finals and will face only one of them in the tournament.
Her quarter-final draw is also pretty easy as it will most likely be against Bianca Andreescu who hasn’t been in some great form lately. Thus, Naomi can bounce back and succeed in Paris this year.
LOSERS
Roger Federer
There is not much great news for Federer as he is set to play a major after almost 17 months. The Swiss Maestro will face Marin Cilic in the very second round of the tournament.
The journey becomes tougher as he’ll move ahead as he’ll be up against Djokovic in the quarter-finals. If he somehow manages to beat the Serbian legend, he’ll meet Nadal in the semis.
Rafael Nadal
The Spaniard’s draw is a little bit difficult this time as compared to last year. Rafael Nadal will face rising star Jannik Sinner in the pre-quarters of the French Open 2021 yet again.
In the quarters, he’ll most likely face Rublev- who defeated him in the quarters of the Monte Carlo Masters 2021. After that, Rafa will draw against World No.1 Novak Djokovic or Roger Federer in the semi-finals. If he manages to get through this tough part, he’ll be facing Tsitsipas or Thiem or Zverev in the finals.
Novak Djokovic
The top-seeded player Djokovic too has quite a laborious path to the French Open title this year. Even though he has an easier draw till the fourth round, he’ll be encountering the 20-time Grand Slam winner, Roger Federer, in the quarters.
Interestingly, this year, Novak will not face his arch-rival Rafael Nadal in the finals but in the semis itself. If he passes in these two challenges, then he’ll face one of the next-gen players in the finals.
Serena Williams
23-time Grand Slam champion, Williams has had quite a disappointing clay-court season this year. The draw hasn’t brought any good to her either as she’ll be most likely battling against Petra Kvitova in the pre-quarters.
After that, she’ll be facing Aryna Sabalenka who recently won the Mutua Madrid Open 2021 title in the quarters. If she beats them all, she’ll be playing against Osaka in the semis before meeting Barty or Swiatek in the finals.
Ashleigh Barty
The top-seeded player, Ashleigh Barty, will have to face quite a few challenges in her pathway at the French Open 2021. Barty will have to beat Ons Jabeur and Coco Gauff to enter the quarter-finals of the major.
The journey after that is not effortless either as she’ll have to defeat Elina Svitolina in the quarters and Swiatek in the semis. If she somehow succeeds in doing that, she’ll most like face Sabalenka or Osaka or Serena in the finals.
Garbine Muguruza
Former World No.1 Muguruza will have to pass the Iga Swiatek challenge in the pre-quarters to excel in the competition. However, her path is not smooth even after that.
If she somehow manages to beat the defending champion, she’ll face Elise Mertens in the quarters before battling against Barty or Svitolina in the semis. Her potential finals’ opponents can be Serena, Osaka, or Sabalenka.
Also Read: French Open 2021 Draw and Bracket: Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic in the Same Half
The post Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Others Part of Winners and Losers List of French Open 2021 Draw appeared first on EssentiallySports.
