Jannik Sinner chasing immortality at French Open with career grand slam in reach

Italian is overwhelming favourite in the men’s draw while women’s event has several genuine contenders

Daniil Medvedev sighed deeply. He had been asked in his pre-French Open press conference to provide some of the intel he gleaned from his spectacular last battle, yet for once he did not have much to say. Medvedev had produced a brilliant performance in the semi-finals of the Italian Open last week, eviscerating the ball off both sides and dragging his opponent off the baseline, scarcely making an error despite their incredibly physical, attritional battle. It was the best level any player had shown against Jannik Sinner, the current undisputed No 1, since the Australian Open in January. He still left the court with only one set.

“It’s super tough,” said Medvedev on the challenge of facing Sinner. “Actually, any match that we saw even this year, because I think he lost only two, the only way to beat him, you need to be at your best for all four, five sets. You need to run, be strong, to serve well, to return well. Everything needs to be on the top level, because him, his game is everything at the top level.”