The French Open tennis tournament is set to begin on May 26, and the draw has been announced. Fourteen-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal is facing a challenging first-round match.
Spain’s Rafael Nadal has committed to playing his second Grand Slam of the year at the French Open. The 22-time Grand Slam champion will face Alexander Zverev in the first round. Nadal had been uncertain about competing at Roland Garros after two seasons marked by injuries. He missed last year’s French Open due to hip surgery. After a loss at the Italian Open this month, Nadal mentioned he needed to reconsider his participation in Paris. However, he continued training on red clay, and his name is officially on the draw. Despite his extensive history of success, Nadal is not considered a favourite in this tournament.
Nadal faced world number four Zverev in the semi-finals of the 2022 French Open, but Zverev had to withdraw due to an ankle injury. The French Open begins on Sunday. In the men’s singles category, Serbia’s 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic will once again be a strong contender. He has a chance to win his 25th Grand Slam, which would be the most in both men’s and women’s tennis combined. Djokovic missed this milestone at the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year. With the Paris Olympics scheduled for July, players are also using the French Open to prepare for the Olympics.
In women’s singles, world number five Jessica Pegula has withdrawn from the French Open. She is not fully fit to participate in this clay court Grand Slam. The American player reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros two years ago. Pegula has been dealing with a neck injury this season and has not played since April.
