French Open Q&A: Djokovic eyeing calendar Grand Slam and can Brits bounce back?

Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek were crowned champions in Roland Garros and are the top-ranked players in the world.

Novak Djokovic and Iga Swiatek confirmed their supremacy by taking home the French Open trophies.

Djokovic overtakes Carlos Alcaraz to return to world number one as a result while Swiatek has shored up a position at the top of the women’s rankings that was in danger.

As the tennis circus moves onto the grass and the build-up to Wimbledon, the PA news agency answers the important questions.

What did we learn about the men’s game?

That Djokovic will always find his best level at a grand slam irrespective of his results in the build-up. The younger generation may be able to beat him over best-of-three sets but best-of-five is another story. With Rafael Nadal out for the season and seemingly heading for retirement, 36-year-old Djokovic looks more dominant than ever.

Could he complete the calendar Grand Slam?

Tennis – 1968 Wimbledon Championships – Men’s Singles – Final – Rod Laver v Tony Roche – All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London — Rod Laver was the last man to complete the calendar Grand Slam (PA Archive)

How will Alcaraz be feeling?

France Tennis French Open — Carlos Alcaraz (left) felt the effects of tension against Djokovic in his semi-final defeat (Thibault Camus/AP)

What about Swiatek?

The 22-year-old Pole lifted the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen for the third time in four years with a tight victory over Karolina Muchova that in some ways feels her most important slam result. Swiatek has shown since racing to the title in Paris in 2020 that she is a ruthless front-runner but fighting through the tough battles has not come so easily. This will be a huge confidence booster.

And the British challenge?

APTOPIX France Tennis French Open — Cameron Norrie was the best of British at the French Open but was still knocked out in the third round (Christophe Ena/AP)

Is it doom and gloom for Wimbledon?

Not necessarily. The absences of Draper and Emma Raducanu are a blow but Andy Murray has started well on the grass with a Challenger title in Surbiton and Norrie was a semi-finalist last year. All the British women will need wild cards, which is pretty embarrassing, but grass will be an opportunity for the likes of Katie Boulter, Katie Swan, Jodie Burrage and Harriet Dart to push towards the top 100.