Express Sport readers agree with Novak Djokovic and John McEnroe that Carlos Alcaraz is the favorite for this 12 months's French Open. Rafael Nadal, a 14-time champion on the Grand Slam, is absent which has blown the boys's draw extensive open. And regardless of Djokovic being the one different man bar Nadal to win the event within the final seven years, Alcaraz is broadly being backed to reign supreme in Paris.

Djokovic's build-up to Roland Garros has been disappointing as a result of damage. He suffered early defeats in Monte Carlo and Banja Luka earlier than being outdone by Holger Rune within the quarter-finals in Rome. Meanwhile world No 1 Alcaraz received the Barcelona Open and Madrid Open, though he misplaced his second match on the Italian Open.

The Spaniard is establishing himself because the successor to Nadal because the 'King of Clay'. Djokovic, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, has himself labelled Alcaraz because the "biggest favourite" to win the Parisian Slam. He mentioned: "We look at the last few months and the kind of shape and the form that he's having and that I'm having, I think he's a slightly bigger favourite."

Similarly, seven-time main winner John McEnroe mentioned: "I would say Alcaraz would be the slight favourite to win this. Alcaraz has a lot of pressure now because he's just such an unbelievable breath of fresh air. He's so electric, the way he plays, he's got such a great personality that people want him to win."

And Express Sport readers agree with the pair. In a ballot that attracted over 3,500 voters, an enormous 53 per cent named Alcaraz as their favorite with Nadal absent. Djokovic in the meantime was clearly second after incomes 28 per cent of the votes.

Behind the pair, Daniil Medvedev was named the third favorite with an 11 per cent share of the votes. Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas each earned simply 4 per cent every, with Rune one other exterior candidate to win together with Alexander Zverev.

Alcaraz mentioned on the weekend: "It's still crazy to see myself in top one seed in a Grand Slam. But for me, at same time is great. Is something that I work for to be there. Yeah, I'm really happy to be No 1 seed here in Roland Garros.

"I felt unhealthy after I hear that Rafa, he was not capable of play right here in Roland Garros and possibly the remainder of the 12 months. As a fan of tennis, I at all times watch Rafa enjoying. I at all times need to watch the most effective gamers on this planet enjoying the tournaments.

"And of course learning from them really close, here in the locker rooms around the tournament for me is great. When I hear that, for me, it was tough, you know, to understand how it's gonna be without Rafa this year."

While Djokovic - who can change into the one man ever to win 23 Slams - mentioned: "History being on the line is something that is very flattering and is very motivating, no doubt about it. Obviously Nadal not playing in the tournament here is a big loss for tennis, is a big loss for Roland Garros, because he's by far the most successful player to play in this tournament in the history.

"So in fact it opens up, you understand, an opportunity and alternative for the remainder of us to attempt to get a title, as a result of at any time when he performs he is an absolute favorite right here or any clay court docket event, for that matter. You have huge names like Alcaraz, he is No 1 on this planet, and possibly the most important favorite within the event.

"Tsitsipas and Medvedev, they have started playing great on clay. And Rune, Ruud, Zverev, knows how to play big events, can always do damage against anybody. So I think the tournament is quite open, to be honest. Maybe a few guys that are at the top of the favourites list, but anyone can take it. I'm hoping it can be me."