Rafael Nadal celebrates with the trophy after winning the final over Novak Djokovic
Rafael Nadal

French Open men's draw places Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz in same half


The three big contenders for French Open glory have placed in the same half of the men's singles draw at Roland Garros.

Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz had all been priced at 3/1 or shorter but only one of them can now reach the final, with Nadal and Djokovic on a quarter-final collision course.

The pair have won 15 of the last 17 titles at Roland Garros between them, with Nadal claiming 13 of them but losing to Djokovic in the semi-finals last year.

An unbalanced draw saw Alcaraz, widely considered the most likely challenger to Djokovic and Nadal, also placed in the top half and a potential semi-final opponent for either of the two veterans.

British number one Cameron Norrie, seeded 10th, will take on French wild card Manuel Guinard while 29th seed Dan Evans, who is still looking for his first victory at Roland Garros, meets Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.

Swiatek v Halep on the cards

Emma Raducanu will make her French Open debut against a qualifier while Heather Watson meets French teenager Elsa Jacquemot and Harriet Dart, another debutante, faces former quarter-finalist Martina Trevisan.

World number one and hot favourite Iga Swiatek opens against a qualifier but could once again take on former champion Simona Halep in the fourth round.

Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova, who has not played since February because of injury, will meet France’s Diane Parry while Naomi Osaka was handed a tough opener against Amanda Anisimova, to whom she lost at the Australian Open.

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