The draw for the upcoming French Open has set up a thrilling first-round clash between 14-time champion Rafael Nadal and No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev. Despite speculation about his participation, Nadal, who has been dealing with injuries, has confirmed his presence at Roland Garros, where he will face a tough opponent in Zverev.
The potential path for the men's quarterfinals includes a possible meeting between top seed Novak Djokovic and either Nadal or Zverev. On the women's side, a semifinal showdown between defending champion Iga Swiatek and U.S. Open champion Coco Gauff could be on the cards.
Despite Nadal's remarkable record at the French Open, the tournament organizers decided not to seed him due to his lower ranking caused by inactivity. This led to Nadal being drawn to face any opponent in the opening round, resulting in the challenging matchup against Zverev.
Aside from the marquee matchups, other notable first-round encounters include Andy Murray facing Stan Wawrinka and Australian Open runner-up Zheng taking on French veteran Alizé Cornet, who has announced her retirement after this tournament.
One anticipated withdrawal from the event is fifth-ranked Jessica Pegula, who has reached multiple major quarterfinals in her career.
The French Open is set to commence on Sunday, with fans eagerly awaiting the exciting battles that lie ahead on the clay courts of Roland Garros.
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