From Zverev to Djokovic: Who can benefit from Sinner's dramatic French Open exit?

[p][a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/5WVSTKR0DMcgLJnpYG6gQ4?si=lXpxPwnHQea2EO262ToJyQ"][b]Listen to this article on Spotify here.[/b][/a][/p][p]This opens the door for a host of names to claim their first major triumph at the French Open.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Alexander Zverev[/a][/h2][p]The man from Hamburg has played an outstanding clay-court season so far, but has repeatedly failed to beat [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sinner-jannik/6HdC3z4H/"]Sinner[/a]. Now that the man from South Tyrol is out of the tournament, the door is wide open for a possible Grand Slam success.[/p][p]The straight-sets win against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/machac-tomas/S44E7UYr/"]Tomas Machac[/a] in particular showed that the German has not travelled to Paris this year to leave the French capital in a hurry. If he maintains his current form, he is the new top favourite to win the tournament and could finally break his duck.[/p][embed guid="2dd53cf9-dd75-46cf-8941-abdf7c611d6f" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2059732116624089235" social-type="twitter" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Novak Djokovic[/a][/h2][p]The magic number for Nole is 25, which is how many Grand Slam victories the Serb could have if he makes it all the way in Paris this year. Djokovic loves the city and Paris loves him, especially now that Sinner, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/alcaraz-garfia-carlos/UkhgIFEq/"]Alcaraz[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Medvedev[/a] are no longer in the running.[/p][embed guid="8ee38dc3-ddaa-4c15-b425-ee7461dfa040" url="https://x.com/TheTennisLetter/status/2059681761613983861" social-type="twitter" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ruud-casper/zN9UpRqp/"]Casper Ruud[/a][/h2][p]The clay-court specialist has already made it to the Roland Garros final twice. First, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nadal-rafael/xUwlUnRK/"]Rafael Nadal[/a] was too strong for him, then he failed against Djokovic. Now, without the new "Big Two", the path is clear for him to finally win a Grand Slam on his favourite surface. [/p][embed guid="4c78f961-e270-4108-9b4a-cc72d9b7acd7" url="https://x.com/BastienFachan/status/2059953700987084997" social-type="twitter" /][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rublev-andrey/AeAn4gP0/"]Andrey Rublev[/a][/h2][p]The Russian is a bundle of energy who feels extremely comfortable on clay and even in difficult situations, Rublev has managed to keep his mentality, push himself, and above all, keep his nerve in this tournament. If he can continue to do this in Paris, he can be extremely dangerous to any player still in the draw.[/p][embed guid="41a1dde8-4c6a-4294-9cb3-436295646d1e" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2059712984092385330" social-type="twitter" /][h2]An underdog?[/h2][p]Rarely has the chance to make history in Paris been as great as it is now. Gustavo Kuerten won in 1997 as the 20th seed, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wilander-mats/KQlqiWhO/"]Mats Wilander[/a] was number 17 in the draw in 1982. Some names have what it takes to set a new record this year.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rinderknech-arthur/pIxZZsof/"]Arthur Rinderknech[/a] (22nd) with the great support of the French fans, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cerundolo-francisco/lWQ3G6gB/"]Francisco Cerundolo[/a] (25th), who is regarded as a clay-court expert, or the youngsters [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/jodar-rafael/OdngshVK/"]Rafael Jodar[/a] (27th) and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/fonseca-joao/tv073LUc/"]Joao Fonseca[/a] (28th) who can both count themselves in with a chance.[/p][embed guid="66911894-2d89-4dab-84e1-8547d63fdfe5" url="https://x.com/rolandgarros/status/2059765045735612506" social-type="twitter" /]