Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are on course for a potential French Open final showdown after both stars were drawn in opposite halves of the men’s singles bracket released on Thursday.
World number one Sinner, widely regarded as the favourite for the title following the absence of injured rival Carlos Alcaraz, will begin his quest for a maiden Roland Garros crown against French wildcard Clement Tabur, ranked 165th in the world.
On the women’s side, reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff could face world number one Aryna Sabalenka in a blockbuster semi-final clash.
The tournament, which begins on Sunday in Paris, has already been overshadowed by tensions between players and Grand Slam organisers over prize money and media obligations, with some players threatening to boycott media duties.
Tournament director Amelie Mauresmo dismissed suggestions that organisers would yield to the pressure.
“We are not going to budge,” Mauresmo told reporters during Thursday’s draw ceremony, adding that she was “a little saddened” by the situation.
“We have prize money that has doubled in 10 years and has also increased significantly recently,” she added.
Sinner is projected to face American fifth seed Ben Shelton in the quarter-finals, while former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev could await in the semi-finals.
The Italian arrives in Paris in top form after winning the Italian Open title in Rome, where he defeated Casper Ruud in the final to secure his sixth Masters 1000 crown. The victory made Sinner only the second player after Novak Djokovic to complete the full set of all nine Masters 1000 titles.
Djokovic, seeded third, will open his campaign against Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard as he continues his pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.
The 39-year-old Serbian could face second seed Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals. Zverev, still searching for his maiden Grand Slam title, begins his campaign against France’s Benjamin Bonzi.
One of the standout first-round matches in the men’s draw sees France’s Arthur Fils take on former champion Stan Wawrinka, who is expected to make his final Roland Garros appearance before retirement.
Veteran Frenchman Gael Monfils, a semi-finalist in 2008, will also begin what is expected to be his farewell French Open campaign against compatriot Hugo Gaston.
In the women’s draw, defending champion Gauff opens against fellow American Taylor Townsend, while Sabalenka faces Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro in the first round.
Sabalenka’s path to the title appears particularly challenging, with four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka a potential fourth-round opponent. Rising Canadian star Victoria Mboko or fifth seed Jessica Pegula could also stand in her way before the semi-finals.
Third seed Iga Swiatek, a four-time French Open champion, could meet Italian Open winner Elina Svitolina in the quarter-finals, while second seed Elena Rybakina is projected to face Swiatek in the semi-finals.
Swiatek begins her campaign against 17-year-old Australian wildcard Emerson Jones, while Rybakina takes on Slovenia’s Veronika Erjavec.
There is also the possibility of a historic all-Southeast Asian second-round clash between Indonesia’s Janice Tjen and the Philippines’ Alexandra Eala, with the winner potentially advancing to face Osaka in the last 32.
AFP
