Fan week at the French Open usually entails a quieter atmosphere: families flocking to kid’s day and enjoying smaller lines for Parisian fare, and fans easily snatching the coveted front-row seat for a chance to watch their favorite player practice.
This year’s fan week, however, was packed. While people may be better aware of the incredible opportunities at Fan Week and the low cost involved, it’s all about the stars that bring fans to the tournament.
In a sense, all of this comes down to Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz. Undoubtedly, every player at the French Open is a talented and accomplished player, and many French Open fans flock to see all sorts of players. But for the first time at a Grand Slam, it’s Alcaraz and Djokovic as the headliners, the box office ticket.
A New Era at Roland Garros?
The 2023 French Open is the first edition of the tournament to feature neither Roger Federer nor Rafael Nadal since 1998. Both two players, considered the epitome of tennis excellence, have spearheaded the growth of tennis due to their charisma. This has always put Djokovic as a third wheel; he’s frequently been the “villain” in the tennis world. Check out the 2011 and 2013 French Open semifinals for context. Both crowds played a massive role in helping Federer and Nadal achieve some of their best-ever victories against the Serb.
Meanwhile, Alcaraz is coming into the 2023 French Open in arguably the best form of his life. He’s never been the “villain,” because he’s just what tennis needs for a younger tennis fanbase. A study from MAGNA six years ago found that the average age of a tennis fan is 61. Surely, those numbers have decreased as the new age of tennis has begun.
Ultimately, Djokovic and Alcaraz both practiced on Court Suzzane-Lenglen the other day to a capacity crowd, something that’s never been seen at “le Stade Roland Garros.” Djokovic will have to be the “beloved veteran” throughout this tournament, and Alcaraz will surely be the “young hero” as he looks to win his second major. This will be the case until the potential semi-final between Djokovic and Alcaraz takes place (if up-and-coming players don’t produce a shock upset before then).
Alcaraz leads the head-to-head against Djokovic 1-0, winning an epic match in Madrid 2022 6-7(5) 7-5 7-6(5). Their potential semifinal would only be better. It would surely be a matchup that all fans at the French Open dream of, and elevate tennis’s popularity on a worldwide scale. It’s the blockbuster matchups that bring in casual tennis fans, and even fans that have never watched a tennis match in their life.
First Round Action
Before any enticing matchup between the two happens, both Alcaraz and Djokovic will begin their campaigns Monday. As both players fall in the same half of the draw, they’ll play on the same day until the semifinals. Intriguingly, Carlos Alcaraz is playing on Suzzane-Lenglen, while Djokovic begins his tournament on Phillippe-Chatrier. Both players begin around the same time, as this will surely cause a massive number of fans to tune into both courts.
Both of their first-round matches should be a breeze, yet an interesting watch. Carlos Alcaraz takes on Flavio Cobolli, an Italian who is making his Grand Slam debut. It should be a good test to see where Alcaraz’s level is, and it will be a great experience for the young Italian. Cobolli won his first ATP challenger title last year in Zadar, Croatia, excelling on the clay courts. Around that time, Carlos Alcaraz won his first Masters 1000 title in Miami.
Aleksandar Kovacevic, Djokovic’s opponent, is also making his Grand Slam debut. The American excelled at the University of Illinois, finishing his college career with a 102-36 record. He was also named an All-American in 2019 and 2021.
Djokovic and Alcaraz should get by in the first round bringing their B-game, but it’ll be interesting to find out whether their opponents bring their A-game. That tends to happen when top players go up against a debutant. Regardless of the outcome, it’s always the first-round match that allows people to better predict how a player will do in any tournament.
Ultimately, Monday initiates a potentially historical run for Djokovic and Alcaraz. With history at stake, it’s no lie that most people are hoping for a Djokovic vs Alcaraz clash. But for now, let’s enjoy seeing these two players as the two box-office tickets, and witness their incredible talent.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
