Three Quebecers will be part of the men’s and women’s main draws at the French Open tennis tournament. If the places of Félix Auger-Aliassime and Leylah Annie Fernandez were already assured by virtue of their world ranking, Montrealer Gabriel Diallo had to work hard to obtain the precious pass.
Although Diallo still does not know the identity of his opponent in the first round, it is different for Auger-Aliassime and Fernandez.
The 21e world racket will meet the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round of the French Open tennis tournament, we learned after the draw.
Auger-Aliassime, also the 21e top seed in the major tournament which will take place on clay, has a 3-2 career record against Nishioka, 72e world racket. The representative of the maple leaf has also won his last three duels against him, including those at the National Bank of Montreal Open in 2022 and at the Madrid Masters earlier this spring.
For his part, Ontarian Denis Shapovalov — who finally lost 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4) and 6-3 to Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor in the round of 16 of the Geneva Open early Thursday morning, after their duel was interrupted by rain the day before — will face Frenchman Luca Van Assche, 101, in the first round at Roland-Garrose in the world. This will be their first career duel.
The two Canadian tennis players were joined by Diallo, who defeated Switzerland’s Alexander Ritschard 2-6, 6-2 and 6-3 in the third and final round of qualifying on Thursday morning. Diallo, a 22-year-old tennis player who is 166e world level, thus reached the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career.
Among the ladies, Fernandez, 31e seeded, will face Frenchwoman Jessika Ponchet, a guest player, in the first round. Ponchet won their only previous duel, at the Gatineau tournament in July 2017.
Ontarian Bianca Andreescu will make her return to action in Paris, having not played a match since her back injury suffered at the National Bank Open in Montreal last August. The 2019 US Open champion, who reached the main draw in Paris by virtue of her protected ranking, will face Spaniard Sara Sorribes Tormo in the first round.
The representatives of the maple leaf could be joined in the main draw by the Ontarian Marina Stakusic, who will play her match in the third and final round of qualifying against the Ukrainian Yuliia Starodubtseva on Friday morning.
A challenge met for Nadal in the first round
Furthermore, Rafael Nadal will be part of the main draw at the French Open. The holder of 14 Grand Slam titles on clay will cross swords in the first round with the German Alexander Zverev. “It will be difficult, but he is a warrior,” agreed tournament director Amélie Mauresmo. Everything is possible with “Rafa”. »
Nadal remained evasive regarding his chances of participating in Roland-Garros after two seasons punctuated by numerous injuries, including one to a hip which forced him to miss his favorite tournament last year.
After his defeat at the Italian Open earlier this month, Nadal said he had to think about his presence in Paris. However, he trained on Parisian clay earlier this week and his name officially appeared in the main draw of the event.
His duel against Zverev, the tournament’s fourth seed, is a repeat of the 2022 semi-final in which the German tore ligaments in his right ankle.
The winner of the duel between Nadal and Zverev could face in the semi-finals the no 1 in the world and reigning champion Novak Djokovic, who will face Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the curtain-raiser.
On the women’s side, a semi-final could be intriguing between the no 1 in the world, Iga Swiatek, who will covet a third consecutive title at Roland-Garros, and the no 3rd in the world, Coco Gauff, the reigning US Open champion. Gauff also lost to Swiatek in the final in Paris two years ago. “I’m starting to feel at home here,” admitted the Pole during the draw.
She will begin her journey against a player from the qualifications, then could have to face the holder of four major career titles, the ex-no1 world Naomi Osaka.
The French Open will officially kick off on Sunday.
With Tom Nouvian