Roland Garros is upon us – fans can rejoice as a live crowd will return to witness the world’s best tennis players return to action. Read on for a complete French Open 2021 preview, including where, when, and information on the returning stars of tennis.
The 2021 French Open will signify normality in the tennis world as spectators return to their seats for the hottest clay-action tournament set to return in the month ahead.
The French Open Location, Prize Pool & Ranking Points
The second Grand Slam of 2021 is set to be held in the 16th arrondissement of Paris at the Stade Roland Garros stadium complex.
The Championship winner will pocket a lump sum of $1,705,375; the finalist collects $913,594, those who reach the semi-finals will earn an amount just shy of half a million. It is not all bad for quarterfinalists either; the earliest exit of the finals still returns a comfortable $310,622.
For the men’s division, 2000 ranking points will be distributed to the champion. The finalist will receive 1200 ranking points, semi-finalists will see an increase of 720 points, and the quarterfinalists gain 320 ranking points. The women’s ranking points are equal to the men’s for the winner; the finalist gets 1300, semi-finalists receive 780, and quarterfinalists 430.
Familiar Faces
The reigning, defending French Open champion, Rafael Nadal, is undoubtedly the most favourable player to claim the tournament’s trophy, and ATP odds agree. Should Nadal become successful this year, he will attempt to secure the 14th championship at Roland Garros. Impressively, the same number of Slams won by the legendary Pete Sampras.
If anybody can put a spanner in Nadal’s woodwork, it will be Novak Djokovic. Because the Spanish professional isn’t the second seed, he could meet Nadal before the final. Suppose Djokovic can somehow capture a second Roland Garros title for his trophy cabinet. In that case, he will become the first male tennis pro in the Open Era to achieve the Double Career Grand Slam of having won each Major at least two times. Rod Laver was the last man to accomplish this, way back in 1969.
For the first time since 2019, we will be greeted on the clay courts with the presence of Roger Federer. Federer, in a similar position to Djokovic, can achieve the Double Career Grand Slam. I’m not entirely sure if Federer is delivering a satirical statement or being completely honest. Still, in a recent interview, he strangely admitted he would not win the tournament – “I know I will not win the French Open, and whoever thought I would or could win it is wrong.”
Dominic Thiem certainly has the skills to shake things up heading towards the finals, but we must be brutally honest, his overall form on the clay in 2021 has a lot to be desired.
The women’s draw holds extra interest this year because 2019 and 2020 champions Iga Swiatek and Ashleigh Barty will be drawn together for the first time in history. This draw happens due to Barty refusing to travel for last years tournament.
Fans will be disappointed to know the 2018 champion and two-time runner-up Simona Halep will not appear in this year’s tournament due to injury. 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka will also be side-lined; missing the Roland Garros will end a streak of 16 back-to-back appearances.
New Blood That May Turn Heads
Casper Ruud has proved his worth on the clay surface; he is a severe threat to Djokovic and even Nadal. Having reached the semi-finals of both Monte Carlo & Madrid. He also reached the semi-finals of In Munich, the quarterfinals in Marbella, and the final of the Geneva Open with a 2021 record of 14-4. Nadal made it known the 22-year-old could disrupt the tournament this year.
When is the Roland Garros
The main draws start on the 30th of May, the women’s final should land on the 12th of June, and the men’s final will take place on the 13th of June. Tickets are still available to purchase for the tournament via the Roland Garros Official Ticket Office.
