French tennis is still looking gloomy. A year after an already calamitous edition of Roland-Garros, where no player had passed the second round in the singles draws, French players are more than ever in uncertainty. After the package of the best tricolor, Gaël Monfils, 22nd in the world, for the first time in more than 20 years, none of them will be seeded this year at Roland-Garros, a tournament of which Europe 1 is the official radio. So, are there any reasons to hope for a French performance all the same?
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Will the “Musketeers” be there?
The mission promises to be complex. First, the “Musketeers” clan, which brings together the four best Frenchmen of the past 15 years, does not arrive in great shape and is amputated from its best element: Gael Monfils. Two other members of this recognized club, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, who announced that he would retire at the end of the tournament, and Gilles Simon who will stop at the end of the year, are experiencing a lackluster end to their career. Despite everything, a Musketeer seems in good shape: Richard Gasquet. The 35-year-old Biterrois, 75th in the world, performed this week by eliminating number 2 Daniil Medvedev in Geneva. A victory that can give him confidence, as he has not passed a third round in a Grand Slam for almost six years.
GO GASQUET
@richardgasquet1 takes out top seed Medvedev 6-2 7-6(5) for his first Top 2 win since April 2005!#gonetgenevaopenpic.twitter.com/cfkB8nXRLy
— TennisTV (@TennisTV) May 17, 2022
Other French players who have already performed in the past are struggling to regain their best level, such as Lucas Pouillewhich picks up slowly on the circuit, or the unpredictable Benoit Pair. They therefore do not arrive in the best conditions before Roland-Garros. Pierre-Hugues Herbertwinner of the doubles tournament twice, was released in qualifying.
Alizé Cornet, the highest ranked Frenchwoman of the tricolor clan
The best French hopes for the 2022 edition could well rest on Alize Cornet. At 32, the Niçoise is the highest ranked in the French clan, with a 40th place in the WTA rankings. His season is stronga quarter-final at the Australian Open earlier this year, her best Grand Slam performance in her career. However, the Habs have failed to shine on clay so far. She will want to raise her head in a tournament she particularly enjoys, and where she reached the round of 16 in 2017.
Always among the ladies, the French Caroline Garcia (73rd worldwide) and Kristina Mladenovic (110th), who have already reached the quarter-finals at Porte d’Auteuil, are going through a difficult period and are also struggling to regain their feelings of yesteryear.
Young players ready to take over?
If the picture drawn up of French tennis leaves little room for optimism, the tricolor salute could go through its succession, likeHugo Gaston. The Toulousain is still trying to confirm his excellent performance in the 2020 edition. However, six months ago, the young 22-year-old tennis player achieved the performance of defeating the Spanish phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz at the Paris-Bercy Masters 1000. To see what the young 21-year-old tennis player has in store this year, in a season so far more than sluggish.
To date it is Ugo Humbert, 23, who will be the highest ranked Frenchman on the men’s side with his 45th place in the world, but clay is not his favorite surface. Other promising players like Benjamin Bonzi (53rd), Quentin Halys (86th), Clara Burel (95th), Diane Parry (96th), or even the precocious Sean Cuenin who will play the third qualifying round at the age of 18, are eagerly awaited by the French Tennis Federation, which hopes to see them come to light. To raise the head of French tennis.