By

BBC Sport tennis news reporter

Not too long ago there were accusations that the men's singles at Grand Slams were becoming a predictable two-horse race.

Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz had swept the previous nine Grand Slams between them, going head-to-head in three of those finals.

When Alcaraz pulled out of the French Open with a wrist injury, it was expected to make for a tournament that lacked jeopardy, because who could stop Sinner?

It felt as though the sweltering conditions in Paris could be the Italian top seed's biggest obstacle - and the 24-year-old wilted in the heat on Thursday.

Sinner battled illness as Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo - who deserves great credit for remaining calm - took advantage to win their second-round match 3-6 2-6 7-5 6-1 6-1.

Once again it showed nothing can ever be taken for granted in sport. And it has blown open a draw in which a larger number of players will feel their chances of lifting the Coupe des Mousquetaires have increased.

Sinner's elimination feels like a gift to the rest of the field - but the sense of opportunity is not without its challenges.

Djokovic is back - again

Novak Djokovic turned 39 last week and, having reached at least the semi-finals in each of the past five majors, has received a boost in his quest for an elusive standalone record 25th Grand Slam.

The third seed is the only man left who knows what it takes to win a major and will be drawing on all that vast experience.

A man of his age has obvious physical limitations and Djokovic has also struggled in the heat over the years.

Playing in Friday's Chatrier day session against exciting Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, with temperatures set to reach 34C, will be a litmus test.

If Djokovic gets past Fonseca, he will feel he has the capacity to build through the tournament.

The temperatures dropping and remaining cooler next week will also benefit him.

When the conditions favour Djokovic, he has continued to defy the ageing process - a point illustrated when he beat Sinner in this year's Australian Open semi-finals.

Djokovic lost to Alcaraz in the Melbourne final, again missing out on a first Grand Slam title since the 2023 US Open. Last year, either Alcaraz or Sinner stopped Djokovic in the French Open, Wimbledon and US Open semi-finals.

With both now out of his way, there are precious few players left in the draw who have the experience of beating the Serb great in a Grand Slam setting.

Chance for Zverev to shake off unwanted tag

The fact that Djokovic is the most plausible title contender is a damning indictment on the rest.

Djokovic's on-court aura can disconcert many younger opponents and Alexander Zverev, often described as the best player of his generation to have never won a major, is one of them.

The German second seed could meet Djokovic in the semi-finals but has regularly looked overawed when they step on court at the Slams.

Zverev's defeat in their French Open quarter-final last year was another stark illustration of how he is often too passive in big matches.

If the 29-year-old navigates his way to this year's final, will the prospect of finally shedding his unwanted tag become too much of a burden to bear?

Zverev blew a golden opportunity in the 2020 US Open final when he let slip a two-set lead over Austria's Dominic Thiem, while two further Slam showpiece losses - the 2024 French Open and 2025 Australian Open - have further deepened the scar tissue.

With no Sinner, no Alcaraz, an ageing Djokovic and inexperienced challengers, Zverev is the favourite on paper - and he may not get a better chance to end his wait.

Jodar's journey could be quicker than expected

As well as Djokovic, Zverev's half of the draw still includes Norway's Casper Ruud and Spanish teenage sensation Rafael Jodar.

Two-time runner-up Ruud, 27, has the knowledge and ability to go far on the Paris clay.

The recent Rome finalist is the canny choice to go all the way - although he could face Djokovic in the fourth round.

But 19-year-old Jodar - seeded 27th after a rapid rise over the past year - is arguably the most exciting pick.

Jodar, who has the raw baseline power to trouble any opponent, plays American Alex Michelsen in the third round and would not face another seed in the last 16.

"Rafa has become, in my opinion, the best player of this new generation and the one with the greatest potential," said Toni Nadal, who coached his nephew Rafael to 16 of his 22 major titles.

Speaking before the French Open, the older Nadal also predicted Jodar to challenge for Grand Slams in the future.

Given Jodar's confident start and the draw opening up, it may be sooner than he thought.

But his path could potentially lead to Zverev in the quarters.

French teenager Kouame lighting up the top half

The top half of the draw - where Sinner was - is even more open.

Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime is the leading player in this section, but has fallen well short of his best this year.

American fifth seed Ben Shelton, who won the Munich clay title, was another high seed to be knocked out of this section on Thursday.

A host of unseeded players - including Cerundolo, his older brother Francisco and 17-year-old Frenchman Moise Kouame - have seen a path open up.

Kouame in particular has created a buzz at Roland Garros.

The teenager, who hails from Parisian suburb Sarchelle, has played with freedom and flamboyance to become the fifth youngest man in French Open history to reach the third round.

"I've always dreamed to get the crowd going and making a bit of a show on court," he said.

It remains highly doubtful Kouame can go all the way and become France's first men's champion since Yannick Noah in 1983.

But, after Sinner's exit, only a fool would place a confident bet on which man might emerge victorious.

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