Where are the main French chances, before approaching the first Grand Slam of the Year? State of play.
French tennis can hardly do worse than in 2021, “annus horribilis”. No tricolor representative, female or male, had reached the second week in Grand Slam. Anything but a coincidence, French tennis living a generational hole with the decline of the Tsonga generation. At the start of the season, some Blues have raised their heads a little, in secondary events. What to hope for (a little) light in the ambient greyness.
They reassured
Gael Monfils
Despite a cervical alert this week, the French number one should be 100% in Melbourne. And confident, he who kicked off his 2022 season perfectly with a title in Adelaide, without conceding a single round. He can hope to go quite far in the table. His opponents from the first three rounds are within reach, starting with the first-round opponent, Argentine Federico Coria, 64e at the ATP. And the expulsion of Djokovic opens the table for him. The Parisian was initially to cross the Serb in 8e the finale…
Arthur Rinderknech
The 26-year-old, a first-time finalist in his career at Adelaide 2 this week, also started his season well, having also played in the ATP Cup the previous week. Despite his good form at the moment, however, he risks having a very complicated first against local Alexei Popyrin, 59e global.
Corentin Moutet
The volcanic tricolor in all its states at the start of the year. In Adelaide, the Parisian was however on track to invite himself to the quarter-finals. Winner of the first set 6-4, the Francilien dropped the second set 7-5 before completely losing control of his nerves against Laslo Djere and insulting the referee twice. An attitude which was sanctioned by an exclusion from the court after intervention by the supervisor. The following week, the 21-year-old tamed his nerves to reach the last four in Adelaide. Encouraging.
They (a little) reassured
Ugo Humbert
The 2021 season has not quite lived up to the hopes placed in him. But at 23, the left-hander has made some sparks with a fine title in Halle on grass. And after more than three months without a single match, he offered himself a nice shot by dominating Daniil Medvedev – diminished, it is true – during the ATP Cup (6-7, 7-5, 7-6). If he then lost to Matteo Berrettini, then Alex de Minaur, but during very close matches where the Messin displayed good dispositions. He could also find Medvedev in the third round in Melbourne next week. It now remains to shine in the Majors. Humbert having lost eight times in the first round in twelve Grand Slam appearances…
Caroline Garcia
If the Lyonnaise remains on a heavy defeat in the quarters of face of Sidney vis-a-vis the winner of Roland-Garros Czech Barbora Krejcikova (6-0, 6-2) in 68 minutes, she offered a face a little more reassuring than in 2021. She should experience a smooth entry against the modest American Hailey Baptiste. From there, to see her reach a Grand Slam quarter-final, her last and only dating back to Roland-Garros in 2017, there is only one step…
They are in the dark
Richard Gasquet
The Biterrois contracted the Covid-19, just before arriving in Melbourne and could not play a single match before playing the first Grand Slam of the year.
Hugo Gaston
Round of 16 at Roland-Garros in 2020 and quarter-finalist at Bercy after qualifying, sometimes knows how to ignite crowds at home. Does the magic operate on the other side of the world? The Toulousain, who is playing his first Australian Open in the big picture, has in any case a good opportunity to cross the first round against the Australian Christopher O’Connell, from the qualifications.
Alize Cornet
A good resistance in the second round of Melbourne against Naomi Osaka and a loss in three sets. Then a disappointment with a loss in the first round of Adelaide. Not the ideal start for the French number one who, if she passes the first round in Melbourne, could find the winner of the last Masters Garbine Muguruza, in the second round. Feat required.
They worry
Benoit Pair
The Avignonnais can no longer do it. Still at a standstill at the start of 2022, he is coming out of two catastrophic seasons in terms of play and image. Unable to adapt to the health crisis and tennis “under a bubble”, the always 46e world, still tested positive at the start of the year and a new quarantine, lost in the first two matches of his season with an abandonment and a balanced match, short of form, ideas and desire. Complicated therefore to consider a rebound in the land of kangaroos.
Read alsoMoutet excluded for insults, abandonment of Paire at a game of the end … The difficult return of the Blues
Lucas Pouille
It seems a long time ago when Lucas Pouille reached the semi-finals in Melbourne. It was in 2019. So close, so far. Invited to the Australian Open, the former world number 10, 27, challenges his compatriot Corentin Moutet, recent semi-finalist in Adelaide, in the role of the outsider. If his right elbow injury, which disturbed him for more than one and a half, seems behind him, the Northerner, who fell to 159th in the world, lost his first two matches of the year in qualifying in Melbourne, then Sydney. Not ideal for regaining the famous lost confidence, before tackling this 100% tricolor duel.
Fiona Ferro
Like tricolor women’s tennis, we don’t expect much from the 8e finalist of Roland-Garros 2020. Separated from her coach Emmanuel Planque, the Northerner, fallen back to 101e rank and also invited, has lost confidence in recent months and its first results of 2022 do not inspire optimism. She lost in the first round of qualifying in Melbourne and lost entry into the big picture in Sydney. And she has to wrestle with Elina Svitolina in the first round. Suffice to say that the task will be complicated.
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