Crisis alert among the superstars

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While Carlos Alcaraz (19/ATP 2) and Daniil Medvedev (27/ATP 3), who were dominant this spring, enjoy their top form, other superstars are ringing alarm bells. 33 days before the French Open, several are pulling the string so as not to jeopardize their participation in Paris.

Novak Djokovic

The number 1 in the world wavers. Since winning the Australian Open in January, the 35-year-old Serb has had nothing but setbacks. First he is banned from the Sunshine Double (Indian Wells and Miami) due to his vaccination status, then he ruins the start of the clay-court season with early outs in Monte Carlo and Banja Luka. Afterwards he said: «I played far below my level. I can’t win like that.” He is absent from Madrid with an elbow injury.

Rafael Nadal

His absence hurts Spanish fans in the capital. The five-time tournament winner has been struggling with a hip injury since the beginning of this year. Since his second-round exit at the Australian Open, the 36-year-old has not played a single game and fell out of the top 10 for the first time in more than 17 years. No one knows when or how the current world number 14 will yield . But Nadal’s goal is clear: to defend the title in Paris.

Matteo Berretini

The Wimbledon 2021 finalist has fallen deep. When the 27-year-old was knocked out of a Challenger-level tournament in Phoenix, he yelled, “Get me off the chair. That is not to look at!” The criticism of his new relationship with model Melissa Satta (37), the ex-partner of Kevin-Prince Boateng (36), hit hard. She would distract him, evil tongues claimed. Berrettini (ATP 21) is currently struggling with muscle problems.

Nick Kyrgios

His last game was at the beginning of October 2022. A meniscus injury has kept the 27-year-old Australian away from tournaments ever since. The man with the spectacular style of play but questionable reputation had to abandon his original plan to return to Indian Wells in March. Most recently, last year’s Wimbledon finalist, who still ranks 26th in the world, posted: “I’m trying to get my body right. I know what I’m capable of.”

Alexander Zverev

The 26-year-old Hamburger (ATP 16) has struggled through the season so far. Most recently there was the crashing lap of 16 in Munich, after which Zverev admitted he couldn’t handle the pressure in Germany (“I’m incredibly nervous.”). In Madrid, where he has already triumphed twice (2018 and 2021), he finally wants to redeem himself – and really launch the season. He is the only one of the crisis quintet to start in the Spanish capital.

Source : Blick