Young Ones to watch
By Benjamin Waldbaum
Monday, May 5, 2024
Every Grand Slam sees its fair share of fresh faces make their first impression on the international stage, and this year's French Open will be no exception. Read on for a resolutely subjective round-up of the new talent to look out for at Roland-Garros 2003.
They are respectively 109th and 115th in the ATP ranking � and not yet 17 years old. Born a few weeks apart, on 3 and 18 June 1986, Spanish sensation Rafael Nadal and French phenomenon Richard Gasquet are unquestionably the young ones to watch at Roland-Garros this year. Gasquet had future winner Albert Costa on the ropes in their first round encounter last year, while Nadal was breathtaking at the recent Monte-Carlo Masters, so the two most talked-about teenagers in tennis will once again be the centre of attention in Paris.
Other more "mature" young talents also look ready to flourish in the summer sun though; Spanish clay court specialist Feliciano Lopez has risen to 59th in the world on the back of a series of impressive performances. The 21 year-old left hander's thundering winners propelled him to the last sixteen at Wimbledon last summer, and no-one would be surprised to see him do at least as well in Paris this time around. Also 21, David Ferrer is another Spaniard universally tipped for stardom. For many observers it is just a question of time before Ferrer, currently 56th in the world, follows up on his first tour win in Bucharest with a major title. Lanky 20 year-old Argentinan Jose Acasuso, meanwhile, has powered his way to 45th in the rankings and appears set to break through at the highest level. Standing tall at 1.91m, Acasuso already has four finals and a victory in Sopot last summer to his name.
The gifted new generation from Eastern Europe should not be discounted either. Russian Nikolay Davydenko will be looking to pursue his inexorable rise up the rankings. He claimed his first title in Adelaide in January, and followed up by winning one of the first clay court tournaments of the year in Estoril, successes that have lifted him to 44th in the world at the age of 21. Currently ranked 75th in the world, 19 year-old Croatian Mario Ancic is not at his happiest on clay, but will draw inspiration from compatriot and friend Goran Ivanisevic, whose attacking style often upset the odds at Majors. And should Ancic require any further encouragement, he only has to look back to his excellent run to the last sixteen in this year's Australian Open.
This year's American contingent, meanwhile, is far stronger than in previous years � on paper at least. Taylor Dent, at 22, is 37th in the world, Robby Ginepri, 48th in the rankings at just 20, and Mardy Fish 57th at the grand old age of 21. These Young Americans are men with a mission.
The women's singles, meanwhile, could witness something of a Russian revolution. Still only 18, Vera Zvonareva can draw on the invaluable experience she gained last year when she emerged from the qualifying tournament to make it to the last sixteen. The precocious Russian has since soared to 29th in the world, and would appear to be on the verge of making it big in 2003. She is not alone either; 17 year-old Svetlana Kuznetsova has fulfilled much of the potential she showed in winning the World Junior Championship in 2001, climbing to 38th in the world, while Marat Safin's 17 year-old sister Dinara Safina has been following in her big brother's footsteps in recent months, charging up the rankings to 71st spot.
Other girls knocking on the door to the big time are 18 year-old Myriam Casanova from Switzerland (45th), who won her first title in Brussels last year, 17 year-old Charleston semi-finalist Ashley Harkleroad from America (56th), 18 year-old French hope Marion Bartoli (62nd), and 18 year-old Indonesian Angelique Widjaja (63rd), who won the French Open Junior title in 2002. None are likely to trouble the Williams sisters, but all appear well equipped to cause an upset against the other top seeds. After all, Gasquet and Nadal are not the only Young Ones to watch on the circuit�
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