Megafanoftennis100
Semi-Pro
As it suggests in the title, which French Open champion over the last 3 years played at the highest level?
For each year, there seems to be an argument for and against the champion's victory being the most impressive:
2021
Upside: Djokovic defeated Rafa Nadal himself (the defending champion) to win the title.
Downside: Djokovic dropped too many sets throughout the tournament, e.g. he was pushed to 5 by the likes of Musetti and Tsitsipas.
2022
Upside: It's Rafa Nadal himself, nuff said. He also beat Djokovic en route to the title.
Downside: Pushed to 5 against Auger Aliassime. And while he did beat Djokovic, we need to consider that the latter was coming back from a long period of absence and was mentally nowhere near his best, because of all the injustice he endured a couple of months prior. Novak clearly played worse in 2022 than he did in 2021 at Roland Garros.
2023
Upside: Djokovic dropped only 2 sets throughout the tournament and committed ZERO unforced errors in all of the tiebreaks he played. He also convincingly defeated the rising star Carlos Alcaraz.
Downside: He did not have to face Nadal, as the latter withdrew from the tournament due to injury. Djokovic also beat Ruud less convincingly than Rafa did last year.
For each year, there seems to be an argument for and against the champion's victory being the most impressive:
2021
Upside: Djokovic defeated Rafa Nadal himself (the defending champion) to win the title.
Downside: Djokovic dropped too many sets throughout the tournament, e.g. he was pushed to 5 by the likes of Musetti and Tsitsipas.
2022
Upside: It's Rafa Nadal himself, nuff said. He also beat Djokovic en route to the title.
Downside: Pushed to 5 against Auger Aliassime. And while he did beat Djokovic, we need to consider that the latter was coming back from a long period of absence and was mentally nowhere near his best, because of all the injustice he endured a couple of months prior. Novak clearly played worse in 2022 than he did in 2021 at Roland Garros.
2023
Upside: Djokovic dropped only 2 sets throughout the tournament and committed ZERO unforced errors in all of the tiebreaks he played. He also convincingly defeated the rising star Carlos Alcaraz.
Downside: He did not have to face Nadal, as the latter withdrew from the tournament due to injury. Djokovic also beat Ruud less convincingly than Rafa did last year.
