Rafa going for No. 10, young ones gunning for him

Paris : With the world’s top five occupied by players over 30 for the first time, Rafael Nadal is poised to tighten the old guard’s Grand Slam grip by capturing an unprecedented 10th French Open.
The Spaniard, written off as a contender in Paris after a quarterfinal loss to Novak Djokovic in 2015 and an injury-enforced pull-out before the third round last year, arrives at Roland Garros as the overwhelming favourite. The 30-year-old has already reached the magical 10 titles this year at the claycourt events in Monte Carlo and Barcelona.
For good measure, he also won Madrid for a fifth time, ending a two-year seven-match losing streak against Djokovic in the process.Nadal boasts a sensational career record at Roland Garros — 72 wins and just two defeats, to Djokovic in 2015 and a shock loss to Robin Soderling in 2009. That defeat to the Swede opened the door for Roger Federer to win his only French Open title. Djokovic and Andy Murray are struggling for form ahead of the tournament which starts Sunday.

Roland-Garros royalty
Rafael Nadal is the ultimate clay player and consummate Roland-Garros champion, with 9 titles between 2005 and 2014. Nadal holds the record for most wins in men’s singles (72 wins, 2 defeats). He is unbeaten in the final.

Defending champs
Novak Djokovic (beat Andy Murray 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-4)
Garbine Muguruza (beat Serena Williams 7-5 6-4)

Staggering numbers
72 victories and just six defeats, nine finals and seven titles between 1974 and 1986, Chris Evert’s success rate in Roland-Garros is second to none in the modern era. Chris Evert’s record of seven titles at Roland-Garros has stood the test of time. It is even more impressive when you consider that she missed the three French Opens between 1976 and 1978, in her golden years.
4 titles, zero defeats, zero sets lost — an immaculate record at Roland-Garros for Helen Wills, one of the first stars in the history of tennis. The American had 19 wins, 0 defeats and 0 sets conceded. Her four titles came in 1928, 1929, 1930 and 1932. She also won eight titles at Wimbledon.

What a Graf
Steffi Graf holds the records for most matches played and won (84 wins, 10 defeats). The German was at home in Paris between 1987 and 1999, winning six titles (1987, 1988, 1993, 1995, 1996 and 1999) and reaching three finals (1989, 1990 and 1992).
Abhimanyu grabs wild card

Abhimanyu Vannemreddy earned a wildcard entry into Junior French Open with a fighting win over Hikaru Shiraishi in the final of the Rendez-Vous event. The 17-year-old tamed the Japanese 6-1 4-6 6-1 in two hours and 15 minutes. Abhimanyu showed exemplary fighting spirit as twice he was bleeding from nose due to heat but never threw in the towel. The Bengaluru boy had lost the regional qualifying final to Siddanth Banthia. Banthia got injured and pulled out, allowing Abhimanyu to come in as last-minute replacement.