'He can win against anyone': Carlos Alcaraz names one contender for French Open this year

Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz has backed Britain’s Jack Draper to be a contender to win the French Open this year. The second Grand Slam of the year will begin on May 27, and players from all over the world will participate to showcase their talent and secure the ultimate prize.

Reigning world number three Alcaraz is currently participating in the Rome Open. The ATP 1000 event is moving towards the business end, and the remaining players are giving their all to secure the ultimate prize. The Spaniard cemented his spot in the semifinal of the event after beating Draper in the quarterfinal in straight sets with a score of 6-4, 6-4.

Despite the result, Alcaraz was full of praise for the 23-year-old. The four-time Grand Slam winner, while talking to the media after the match, stated that Draper has shown what he is capable of and backed him as one of the contenders to go all the way and lift the title at the Roland Garros this season.

"Jack I think, he has shown the level he has,” said Alcaraz. “He can win against anyone in every tournament. Of course, Jack is No. 5 in the world. He has won one Masters 1000 final, made the final in one of them, as well. He's one of the players who can win the French Open. Any Grand Slam, honestly. I think right now in tennis we have a bunch of players who are able to win Grand Slams or make good results. I think the draw right now is really, really open, which is good. So Jack Draper I think is one of them."

Draper is going through an impressive season. The reigning world number five won the ATP 1000 event in Indian Wells after beating Denmark’s Holger Rune in the final in straight sets with a score of 6-2, 6-2. Most recently, he featured in the Madrid Open, where he finished as the runner-up after losing to Norway’s Casper Ruud.