French Open: Nadal to face Zverev in first round | Tennis News

In a dramatic draw for the French Open, Rafael Nadal, the 14-time champion, is set to face off against fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the first round. This tough matchup comes as Nadal, who missed last year’s tournament due to injury, has announced that this season will likely be his farewell to the French Open.

The draw also revealed that Novak Djokovic will begin his quest for a 25th Grand Slam crown against local player Pierre-Hugues Herbert, while defending champion Iga Swiatek will start her title defense against a qualifier.

Former world No.1 and tournament director Amelie Mauresmo expressed surprise at the Nadal-Zverev pairing, calling it early in the tournament and stating that it is not good news for either player. Should Nadal emerge victorious, he could potentially face 2021 US Open winner Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.

In the women’s draw, Swiatek, who has been in top form after winning both the Madrid Open and Italian Open, is favored to claim her fourth title at Roland Garros. However, she could face tough competition in her quarterfinal, including Naomi Osaka, Danielle Collins, and Marketa Vondrousova.

With the stage set for an exciting tournament, fans are eagerly anticipating the action on the clay courts of Paris. Stay tuned for more updates as the French Open unfolds.