Rafael Nadal handed tough draw at French Open 2024, check full draw

Rafael Nadal faces Alexander Zverev in first round.

Rafael Nadal’s anticipated farewell to French Open 2024 got a lot tougher after Thursday’s draw put the 14-time champion on a collision course with several top contenders, starting with fourth seed Alexander Zverev in the very first round.

The 37-year-old Spaniard, who announced earlier this year that the 2024 French Open would be his last before retirement, could not have asked for a more daunting path as he aims for one final triumph on the Parisian clay.

Nadal and Zverev have a lengthy history at the French Open, with their upcoming first-round clash marking the 11th time the two have met. Their most recent matchup in Paris was the 2022 semifinals when Zverev was forced to retire with a serious injury while trailing Rafael Nadal after splitting the first two sets.

Should Nadal survive the formidable opening test against the German, other seeded threats potentially await at every turn. Belgian David Goffin could be a second-round opponent, with dangerous Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor looming in the third round.

The quarter-final round could produce a blockbuster matchup against 19-year-old Danish phenom Holger Rune, while a semi-final berth could mean a clash with Russian Daniil Medvedev or longtime rival Novak Djokovic. And if Nadal incredibly runs that gauntlet, rising Italian star Jannik Sinner may await in the final.

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Djokovic will be heavily favoured to reach the semifinals from the top half of the draw after landing a very manageable opening opponent in French wildcard Pierre-Hugues Herbert. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is still seeking his first title of 2024.

2024 Australian Open champion and second seed Jannik Sinner begins his French Open campaign against American Christopher Eubanks. Third seed and two-time major winner Carlos Alcaraz faces a qualifier or lucky loser in the opening round.

In the women’s draw, world number #1 Iga Swiatek was kept apart from primary threat Aryna Sabalenka, setting up a potential showdown between the two heavy favourites. Swiatek faces a qualifier in the first round but could run into former major winner Naomi Osaka in the second round.

American no #3 seed Coco Gauff landed in Swiatek’s half and is on a potential semifinal collision course with the Polish star after falling to her in the Rome semifinals last week.

Check Full Draw here.

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