There’s only one man who can stop tennis’ new monster from reigning supreme

Aussie tennis star John Millman has revealed the regret he has over an embarrassing bet he made about world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

Carlos Alcaraz and John Millman. Photo: Getty.

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Tennis fans are in for a treat! Roland Garros has arrived, and Wimbledon is fast approaching. Easily the exciting time in our sport. Two of the biggest tournaments condensed over an eight-week period.

The contrasting surfaces of the clay at Roland Garros and the grass at Wimbledon will see vastly different adopted playing styles.

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The French Open is a beast that is the most physically demanding of all slams with the red dirt creating heavier playing conditions. It’s harder to win free points with a serve, rather players must engage in gruelling baseline exchanges.

No one did this better than Rafael Nadal. The most dominate player on these courts, his injury withdrawal was a massive blow to the tournament. His omission much to the disappointment of the fans, will be seen as an opportunity to his rivals, a chance for a new champion. The question is who will that champion be?

The Men’s Champion

In 2021 I had just finished a three-hour session at Juan Carlos Ferrero’s Academy with an 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz.

Ranked 130 in the world at the time everyone was talking about this kid. I was blown away with how good he was, as was my coach, Peter Luczak.

Talking over lunch we both agreed that he was going to do big things in our sport.

Alcaraz is taking over the tennis world. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP)

Pete proposed a wager in the form of a new golf driver that he’d win French Open in the next ten years. I took him up on it, at the time Rafa and Novak were unstoppable and players like Thiem and Ruud were knocking on the Roland Garros door.

I’ve been regretting that bet ever since! Alcaraz is an absolute beast, he looks the heir to Rafa’s throne and the only person able to stop him is one the greatest to have ever played the game in Novak.

The Women’s Champion

I’m looking at the champ, Iga Swiatek, to bounce back here and claim her fourth Grand Slam title. Knowing how competitive she is after missing out on silverware in the lead ups in Madrid and Rome she will be looking to atone. Since winning here in 2020 she has established herself as the best player in the world. Watch out for her superior movement which is so important on clay.

Regardless of who wins the French Open, it shapes to be a brilliant edition. There’s something in the air that a changing of guard is approaching. Could it be at this year’s Roland Garros? We’ll find out in two weeks!

Australia’s best chances

I’m looking at Australia’s male number one, Alex De Minaur as our best chance. The clay surface is De Minaur’s least favourite of the four slams, but his game is not without merit on it.

Having grown up on the clay courts in Alicante, Spain, he’s comfortable on the surface and we must remember it was only twelve months ago in the semi finals of the Barcelona Open that he held match points against Spanish phenomenon and world number one, Carlos Alcaraz.

Can the Demon carry the hopes of the nation. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

The dark horse we’ve forgotten about

The Italians have some of the most exciting prospects in men’s tennis. With so much attention on Jannick Sinner I think Lorenzo Musetti is the one to watch out for. Bursting onto the scene when up two sets to love against Djokovic in the 2021 French Open edition before running out of gas, he’s now more mature and physically sound to survive the most demanding of slams.

Ostapenko is must watch television. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The women’s draw, meanwhile, also has a player worth keeping our eye on for a potentially deep run.

She’s won here before in 2017, but we haven’t seen Jelena Ostapenko return to that form since. That is until now. An impressive 2023 has served as a reminder that class is permanent.

The Latvian is one of the purest ball strikers on the women’s tour and probably the feistiest competitor. Whether it’s frosty handshakes or ongoing battles with electronic line calling, there’s always a reason to tune in to Ostapenko’s matches.

And now she’s back to playing her best, she could be on our screens for the full two weeks. On a side note, keep an eye out for her self-designed outfits, they certainly divide opinion.

John Millman is an Aussie tennis veteran, with one ATP Tour title to his name and a victory over Roger Federer in the fourth round of the 2018 US Open.

You can follow him on Twitter here.

Originally published as There’s only one man who can stop tennis’ new monster from reigning supreme