Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have been handed nightmare French Open draws and are set for a blockbuster meeting in the quarter-finals. Djokovic is the tournament’s top seed while Nadal is seeded fifth, and both have been drawn in the same quarter.
The world number one will participate in his first Grand Slam of the year after missing the Australian Open due to his deportation. His great rival went on to claim a record 21st major title at Melbourne Park and if the Serbian wants to draw level, he may have to overcome the great Spaniard.
The 34-year-old will begin his campaign against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, before setting up a potential meeting with Slovakia’s Alex Molčan in round two. A second clash could be on the cards with America's Jenson Brooksby in the third round.
Their first match came at last year’s US Open, when the youngster claimed the first set in their last-16 encounter before Djokovic stepped up a gear and dispatched his opponent in four. Argentina's Diego Schwartzman may lie in wait in round four, before another possible legendary clash with Nadal in the last eight.
If the 20-time Grand Slam champion were to defeat Nadal, his reward? A potential second match-up with tennis' brightest young talent, Carlos Alcaraz, before a possible meeting with Stefanos Tsitsipas, a rematch of last year's final. Nadal meanwhile, will contest his opening Roland Garros match with Australia’s Jordan Thompson before a possible round-two clash with 2015 winner Stan Wawrinka.
Botic van de Zandschulp may stand in the Spaniard’s way in round three, and this would mark their first meeting, while another first-time match with world number nine Felix Auger-Aliassime, who is coached by his uncle Toni, could on the cards in round four. Should Nadal overcome Djokovic if they clashed in the quarter-finals, he could book a fourth meeting with Alcaraz before a possible final with the fourth seed.
On the women’s side, Emma Raducanu is set to compete in her first ever French Open. The British number one will learn her first-round opponent on Friday after drawing a qualifier in her first-ever match in Paris. Last week she withdrew from her Italian Open bout with Bianca Andreescu due to injury, but as it stands the Brit will be fit enough to compete over the next fortnight.
The number 12 seed has a tricky route, and is scheduled to face former world No.1 Angelique Kerber in the third round and then the in-form Ons Jabeur in the last 16, who has reached the final in three of her last four events, and won the Madrid Open.
Roland Garros 2022 is set to begin this Sunday.
