Alcaraz Roland Garros Favourite Even If He Loses In 1st Round in Rome Says Hantuchova

Former player Daniela Hantuchova has picked Carlos Alcaraz as the Roland Garros favourite regardless of what happens in Rome.

The Italian Open will be an interesting event as it will show where every player stands. Rafael Nadal won't play, so his level ahead of Roland Garros will remain a mystery. Novak Djokovic will make a comeback and that will be an interesting thing to watch as he didn't play that well on clay this season.

Alcaraz will also be in Rome to test himself in somewhat similar conditions to those that will be in Paris as the court plays a bit slower than at the ATP 1000 event in Madrid. The conditions are also different and he didn't take part in it last year. Talking about his chances in the French capital, Hantuchova said that it doesn't matter what happens in Rome.

Honestly, nothing really has to happen even if he loses the first round, which is not going to happen. But maybe, he's still to me a very, very clear favorite ahead of Roland Garros.

Hantuchova was present in Madrid watching Alcaraz play and she talked about how the event favoured the Spaniard. That worked out well for him but it won't be there in Paris or Rome. Even so, Hantuchova thinks that the number of matches he played on clay could end up being crucial at Roland Garros.

Carlos has had so many more matches behind his belt and for Carlos right now as soon as he steps off the court until he gets to Paris, it's all about the preparation for Roland Garros already.

Alcaraz considers himself a favourite for Roland Garros declaring himself at the top of the list of players capable or likely to win the event. Confidence was never an issue for him as he did a similar thing last year after winning the Madrid Open but this year the landscape is vastly different with the other favourites struggling.