French Open draw: Djokovic, Sinner in similar half, Swiatek lands in Sabalenka’s half-OxBig News Network

The French Open 2025 draw threw up some blockbuster matchups on Thursday, setting the stage for a gripping fortnight at Roland Garros. World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic discover themselves in the identical half of the lads’s draw, whereas defending ladies’s champion Iga Swiatek faces a loaded part that features Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Jasmine Paolini.

ALCARAZ BEGINS TITLE DEFENCE AGAINST NISHIKORI

Carlos Alcaraz, seeded second and seeking to defend his title, begins in opposition to former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori. The Spaniard is drawn within the reverse half from Sinner and Djokovic, avoiding the 2 till a possible ultimate.

Alcaraz’s projected quarterfinal opponent is two-time Roland Garros finalist Casper Ruud, organising a possible rematch of their clay-court battles.

SINNER FACES EARLY TESTS ON GRAND SLAM RETURN

Jannik Sinner, making his return to Grand Slam tennis following a three-month suspension, opens his marketing campaign in opposition to Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech. A possible second-round conflict with veteran Richard Gasquet, who’s taking part in his twenty second and ultimate Roland Garros, might make for a poignant second on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

The Italian’s draw solely will get tougher from there. Sinner might run into Jack Draper, the fifth seed from Britain, within the quarterfinals, earlier than a probable semifinal in opposition to both Alexander Zverev or Djokovic. Zverev, final 12 months’s runner-up, and Djokovic are projected to satisfy within the quarters.

Sinner, who fell to Carlos Alcaraz within the Italian Open ultimate final week, comes into Paris with type however little margin for error in a half stacked with contenders and French crowd favourites.

Other key first-round matchups embrace:

[2] Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) vs Kei Nishikori (JPN)

[3] Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Learner Tien (USA)

[6] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs Mackenzie McDonald (USA)

[11] Daniil Medvedev vs Cameron Norrie (GBR)

[13] Ben Shelton (USA) vs Lorenzo Sonego (ITA)

[14] Arthur Fils (FRA) vs Nicolas Jarry (CHI)

[30] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs Joao Fonseca (BRA)

TOUGHEST DRAW YET FOR SWIATEK

In the ladies’s area, defending champion Iga Swiatek finds herself in one of the difficult sections of the draw. The Pole, seeded fifth this 12 months, opens in opposition to Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova and will face former US Open champion Emma Raducanu within the second spherical.

Beyond that, it solely will get harder. Swiatek’s possible third-round opponent is Elena Rybakina, adopted by Jelena Ostapenko within the fourth spherical – each of whom maintain a 6-0 head-to-head file in opposition to her. In the quarterfinals, she might face in-form Italian Jasmine Paolini, contemporary off her title run in Rome.

Swiatek, who hasn’t reached a ultimate since lifting the trophy in Paris final 12 months, stays assured. “This season has had ups and downs, however I do know my recreation is there,” she stated after the draw, carried out by PSG and France ahead Ousmane Dembl.

World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who shares the identical half as Swiatek, opens in opposition to Russia’s Kamilla Rakhimova. A semifinal conflict between the 2 high contenders looms giant if each can navigate a stacked area.

WOMEN’S DRAW HIGHLIGHTS A BRUTAL QUARTER

The projected quarterfinals within the ladies’s draw are:

[5] Iga Swiatek vs [4] Jasmine Paolini

[2] Coco Gauff vs [7] Madison Keys

[3] Jessica Pegula vs [8] Maria Sakkari

[1] Aryna Sabalenka vs [6] Marketa Vondrousova

A must-watch first spherical options Japan’s Naomi Osaka, getting back from maternity go away, in opposition to tenth seed Paula Badosa of Spain.

On the opposite facet of the draw, second seed Coco Gauff begins in opposition to Australia’s Olivia Gadecki. The American teenager might face Madison Keys within the quarterfinals and Jessica Pegula in a possible all-American semifinal.