Jack Draper going to next level, Emma Raducanu’s form, Iga Swiatek and Novak Djokovic in Gigi Salmon’s column | Tennis News

In the end Sky Sports The column, Gigi Salmon reveals what happened when it sat on the plane next to the Jack Draper and how the British number 1 goes to the next level, Emma Radocano shaped on Clay, and the lack of Iga Swatek in its shape and why the Novak Djokovic feels anxious.

The main headlines that come out of Madrid and Rome did not involve tennis, but the reduction in power in the removal of most Spain, Portugal and some France, while during the middle of the match in Rome came the announcement that the new Pope was elected, Pope Liu XIV.

On the field, we left to scratch our heads on the players who expected us to reduce their way to the French Open – which begins on Sunday – stumbled again and again, which means that for the first time in a period of time, a winner is not chosen from both clouds for men and women.

Dryber goes to the next level

Returning to Madrid and Rome, and let’s start with the British and British No. 1 Jacques Darbar, who reached only the seventh master’s degree, and by using the rise in his favor, he reached the final match in Madrid and then the first quarter -finals in Rome, where he would have fallen to Carlos Alcaraz.

The year of Jack continues to move from strength to strength, physically and mentally, and he transports himself to the next level, the place where he knows that there will be more expectations placed on him, and his eyes are more, which is well that he perceives to take time to adapt to him.

He talked about “greatness in consistency”, which is something that accumulates, and after successful victories of eight victories and only two defeats in the two events, which I took to the world number 5, only 15 points behind Taylor Fritz fourth, there will be an expectation in Paris and where he goes from here.

Social media risks

He sat on the plane next to Jack, from Madrid, it was interesting to get his ideas on social media, both strength and danger, especially as a mother for two good people who find themselves increasingly attracted to it.

He wants it, and the pieces in Madrid gave him a taste for her, and retreat from social media, which, although I feel that many of us can benefit from it, it is easy to say to do it – especially when she is 23 years old and creates temptation and distraction in every corner.

Encouraging signs on Radocano

Emma Radocano had a few weeks encouraging, building it on the quarter -finals in Miami, and she finds her feet on clay, and while I write this, it is inserted into Strasbourg.

After kissing the late WildCard card, Emma started a great start by beating Daria Kasatkina, saying after that: “As I spend more time in clay, I started to love her more and more. I build my relationship with the surface.”

It seems that she finds what works for her inside and outside the field, where Jane Odonugu and Mark Picki became next to her and pre -match to become an important part of her preparations, and also she needs to separate herself from tennis, go out to explore her surroundings and immerse herself in something other than tennis.

Congratulations to Katie Polater, who entered, after an early exit in Rome, to WTA 125 in Paris and crowned a hero, with five victories and three finals three groups against Chloe Paquet. It takes a large amount of points, and most importantly, time and confidence on a surface that can have its own mind.

What is it with swiatek?

Over the past few years of this time of the year, discussions about women’s lot, “IGA Swiatek are the favorites, that she can approach clay.”

This year, it became more “what it’s with IGA”, after a season that was through the criteria of most people, it would be great, 27 wins in 2025 out of 36 games played, reaching four semi -final and five if you included the United Cup. She is a four times an open French champion, and she is a three -time defender, but for the first time since 2020, she arrives in Paris without a title to start the year and lack confidence as well.

She talked about technical “adjustments” that she was making, as there was a personal loss with the death of her grandfather and some of them wondering whether her ban for a month was because she failed to test doping at the end of last year, still hovering over her. I also go back to when I spoke to us in Miami, then when the cameras stopped, I continued to conversation with me, and I talked about the intense level of pressure and scrutiny you feel from the media in Poland.

It has now reached a lot to five years in the world, but in preparation for Paris, Iga has arrived early. She has not been lost in Roland Garros since 2021 – this is 21 consecutive wins and will celebrate her twenty -fourth birthday there at the end of the month, so you will hope to feel learning there and that the additional time in accumulation will lead to continued success in the Parisian clay.

Why Djokovic feels upset?

I will dismantle the French open clouds later in the week as soon as it is made and we know what it is, given the British competitors and hope, but another player this week is Novak Djokovic.

Djokovic is competing this week at the ATP 250 event in Geneva in search of a form, and for the number 100, and he does this without a coach after the news erupted during Rome, a tournament he has not played for the first time since 2007, and has separated from coach Andy Murray.

Not a surprise for many with Djokovic is struggling for the model and after the surprise of many with a shouting full of protection during a training session alongside Murray in Madrid, where he talked about tennis hatred and everything, Matteo Arnaldei will lose in the first round.

Djokovic looks unstable. Is it pure in court? Are things happening off the court? He just knows, but it seems that Grand Slam 25 is heading away from him, and with the return of Jannik Sinner in the tour and it seems not far away, the next few weeks take us to Wimbledon will be very enjoyable.

Tennis will continue Sky Sports tennis And while we keep you right with tours, and as soon as I wander to empty Rome and re -fill Paris, I will dismantle the French open when we start asking about who will be issued at the top in Roland Garros!

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