Men’s Player That Needs a Deep Run
Peter Bodo: Sure, all-time Grand Slam singles champ Novak Djokovic is playing with house money any time he enters a tournament at age 37. But a deep run would really help him assess his fitness and condition as he targets Roland Garros, with its five-set matches and variable weather.
Liya Davidov: Falling out of the Top 10 is proof that the players around Casper Ruud continue adapting to the evolution of men’s tennis. Whether it be his tennis game or his mentality that needs adjusting, Ruud’s got to figure something out sooner than later, and what better time to reignite his presence than at the beginning of the clay season?
Jon Levey: Not long ago Casper Ruud looked like a future Roland Garros champ. Reaching two straight finals (2022-23) creates that impression. However, the Norwegian is no longer giving off favorite vibes. Taking a few wins at a Masters 1000 event—a level where he has yet to win a title—could put him back in the conversation.
Stephanie Livaudais: Andrey Rublev has shown positive progress since adding Marat Safin to his coaching team a few weeks ago, but could drop outside the Top 10 after last year’s Madrid points come off. He’ll need a deep run to prove to doubters, and to himself, that he’s on the right track.
Ed McGrogan: Taylor Fritz: It’s his first clay-court match of the season—why the rush? Well, Roland Garros is just over a month away, and if Fritz has any designs on going deep in Paris, he’ll want to hang onto his No. 4 ranking. To do that, he’ll need to defend semifinal points from last year.
