IGA SWAITEK WILL OPEN FRENCH OPEN DEFENCE AGAINST QUALIFIER; IN ROUND TWO, COULD FACE NAOMI OSAKA
Should Iga Swiatek advance past an unidentified qualifier or a fortunate loser in her opening round at the French Open, she may play Naomi Osaka in a thrilling second round match. Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, and the top seed are drawn in the same half and will face Greet Minnen in the opening round. Katie Boulter of Britain has one of the most difficult draws imaginable as she plays Paula Badosa.
Watch this moving moment from the French Open. Roland-Garros thriller: Iga Swiatek defends her championship
Watch as a moved Swiatek wins the title in a thrilling thriller at Roland-Garros.
If they both win their opening matches at the French Open, reigning champion Iga Swiatek and Naomi Osaka will square off in the second round.
While Osaka, who is still recuperating from maternity leave, will face Lucia Bronzetti, the world No. 1 will begin her championship defense against an as-yet-unidentified qualifier or lucky loser.
With the top two seeds in the rankings in different parts of the draw, Aryna Sabalenka, the second seed, will take on Erika Andreeva right away. Though she starts against Greet Minnen of Belgium after a successful clay court season, the Australian Open champion is in the same half as former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
With retirement blooming, Federer hopes Nadal plays “much longer” than expected.
Number one in Britain With Paula Badosa just outside the top 100 because she is still recovering from a stress fracture in her back, Katie Boulter has a difficult opening match opponent. Her opponent, Czech Linda Noskova, the 27th seed, is a challenge for fellow Brit Harriet Dart as well.
The first round of the heavyweight draw features a few ties, with Elina Svitolina paired against Karolina Pliskova, who has fallen out of the top 50 in the world rankings.
The champion of the US Open, Coco Gauff, will also play a qualifier or fortunate loser in the first round.
