Tennis great Martina Navratilova has predicted that Jannik Sinner will win the 2024 French Open “if his body holds up.”
The 18-time Grand Slam singles champion believes Sinner “still has to have a ton of confidence”, while she backed Alexander Zverev to be the Italian’s opponent in the final.
Sinner is the No 2 seed at Roland Garros and will face Christopher Eubanks in his opening match at the clay-court Grand Slam.
The 22-year-old is one of the favourites to win the title in Paris, although there are questions over his fitness due to the hip injury that has affected his preparations.
The injury caused Sinner to withdraw from the Madrid Open ahead of his quarter-final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime and also forced him to pull out of the Italian Open.
Sinner is looking to win his second Grand Slam title after claiming his maiden Major at the Australian Open in January. He is also seeking just his second title on clay to add to the ATP 250 event he won in Umag in 2022.
The world No 2 could meet Zverev in the final of the French Open as the German, who is seeded fourth, is in the top half of the draw. Zverev will face 14-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal in a blockbuster first round match.
Speaking on Tennis Channel, Navratilova, a two-time French Open winner, named Sinner as her pick for the men’s title.
“I have Sinner if he is healthy. Yeah, I think so, I think he is due. Grew up on the stuff. He slides well,” said the former world No 1.
It’s anyone’s game 🍿
The TC Live desk predicts who will make it to the men’s final and who will take home the title at #RolandGarros. #TCLive pic.twitter.com/enmz5hBkkV
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) May 25, 2024
“If his body holds up, he still has to have a ton of confidence otherwise. And I think Zverev [will reach the final], if he gets through Rafa, and not get too beat up.”
Sinner addressed concerns about his hip injury in his pre-tournament press conference at Roland Garros.
“The hip feels good. I’m not concerned anymore about my hip. The last tests we made, they were very positive. That’s why I’m here,” the Italian said.
“For sure, the general physical shape is not there where I want it to be, but we cannot make miracles in less than 10 days before the first-round match.
“But I’m happy to be here. Look, it’s not been an easy period for me, not playing Rome, which is a very special tournament.
“Most importantly it’s going to be the mental side, of being mentally ready, accepting things what could happen on the court, and then we see what I can do.
“I know in my mind that I can play good tennis even with this kind of shape where I am right now, and hopefully I can stay here longer than last year. I made second round last year. Let’s see what I can do this year.”